Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 NIV
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 NIV
This passage is all about priorities. If we desire to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind and soul then we have decisions to make. In Exodus 20:1-11 God tells the Hebrews that His people must worship God – honor God and his name – keep his Sabbath day holy and never make anything more important than Almighty God. Priorities.
If God is our priority, if we sincerely commit to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, then this requires each of us to make every decision in light of this commitment. First, will I prioritize spending time getting to know God? Will I read His word? Will I pray? Will I worship Him?
Then come all the many decisions we make throughout the day. What will I spend my money on? Who will I talk to, text or email? How will I spend my free time? What attitude should I have as I do my work today? How will I react when the interruption comes or the detour on the road changes my plans? Will I get angry or will I stop, pray, and ask for God to lead, guide, help in the everyday decisions I make.
Jeremiah describes what God desires for us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD,” Jeremiah 29:11-14a. God desires a relationship with us. He desires us to worship Him: to pray to Him, to seek Him, to listen to Him. God loves us and He wants us to love Him back.
Invite God into your decisions this week.The big ones,the small ones,all of them. Talk to him about your plans,-your interruptions and your concerns. Spend time reading the Bible and talking it over with Him. Make your relationship with God a priority. Spend some time memorizing Deuteronomy 6:4-9 or Jeremiah 29:11-14. Think about what God desires in our relationship with Him.
By Grace Hunter
