The First Commandment

A scribe once asked Jesus, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” [1]

Yes, the God who is love wants to be loved. Our Creator does not want us placing other gods that are no gods at all before Him. In fact, the term “anti” as in “anti-Christ” can be translated “instead of Christ.” Is there anything or anyone that we have placed higher than Christ?

God is a jealous God. After He brought the people out of Egypt, He tells us that they made another god out of gold and began to worship. God was in the midst of giving Moses His commandments for the people to follow when this happened. He was ready to destroy them and make of Moses “a great nation” but “Moses pleaded with the Lord his God” to spare them for the sake of His (God’s) reputation before the nations. Moses reminded God of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. “So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.” [2]

The Exodus from Egypt was indeed a great deliverance, but even greater is the deliverance that Jesus Christ wrought for us. He died on the cross and rose from the dead. He lives to intercede for us. He frees us from bondage to sin and from the devil’s power. He gives us eternal life. Praise His holy Name!

“Dear Lord Jesus, forgive us for the times we have failed to keep You in the highest place. Please fill us with zeal by the power of Your Holy Spirit to be jealous for You and for Your glory. May You be highly exalted in our lives, and please use our lives to lead others to put You in the highest place as well. It is in Your Name that I pray. Amen.”

[1] Mark 12:28-30
[2] Exodus 32:1-14