BEING A CHILD OF THE LORD INCLUDES LOVING OUR FATHER

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Love the LORD your God with all your heart 
and with all your soul and with all your strength. 
(Deuteronomy 6:5)

MEDITATION:
Do you ever think that sometimes 
we make being a follower of the Lord too difficult?
We can create lengthy lists of things to do and not do.
It’s not a bad thing to know them, but following Christ 
is all about attitude and dedication, rather than some check lists.

When our heart and mind are ‘right’, 
we will know when we are pleasing God, and when we are not.
Whenever we exceed His boundaries, we will know it in our hearts 
and will not have to review some mental check lists.

In Deuteronomy, 
we are given a simple command to love the Lord with our entire being.
It makes sense, doesn’t it?
When we love someone, we are prepared to do anything for them.

God doesn’t need our ‘help’, 
but He does want our dedication and availability.
Why? Because He wants us to carry forward 
what Jesus started when He walked the earth in human form.
God wants us to be participants of His mission, and not just spectators.

Love also means we are willing to sacrifice our own desires 
in order to do things for others.
For instance, if we have plans and someone needs our assistance, 
we will forego whatever we had planned so that we can be there for them.
Today, there are some Christians who intentionally make plans which 
they know will replace spending time with the Lord and His people.

Moses had just given the people of Israel the Ten Commandments 
he had received from God, and now he was impressing on them 
the importance of changing their hearts and attitudes.
Look at how he emphasized 
the priority they should give to what he had told them.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress 
them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you 
walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as 
symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the 
door frames of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

Moses wanted them (and us) to realize that this was information 
from God Himself, and not just something he had concocted on his own.
We can imagine that he also did not want them to 
miss out on developing a close relationship with the Lord.

ACTION:
Being a follower of the Lord is not something passive, but an opportunity 
to be actively involved in pleasing Him, and pointing others to His Son.
As Christians, we have become His disciples with the capability of being 
witnesses of our faith in the Lord, through our lifestyle and attitudes.

Do you love the Lord with all your heart, soul and strength?
Can others easily see the love you have for Him?
A passive attitude will not communicate to others how much we love Him.
What changes do you need to make to give the Lord top priority in your life?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You have blessed me with food, clothing and shelter 
in abundance. You have also poured out Your blessings on me in many
other ways. You have shown me the true meaning of a Father and child 
relationship. Help me to be a child who is pleasing to You and loves You 
with my entire being. Teach me how to increase my love and relationship 
with You by developing new attitudes and priorities. Forgive me for the 
times I have given You less than first place in my life.” 

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