The First Commandment – Part 2
Good Day to each and all of you that is reading this column as I hope this day and each day has you refreshed, and your mind set in God’s ways.
Wow! Can you believe it, we are nearly nine months into finishing this year, my how time flies—Here in the USA, we will soon be entering the fall months and for us folks in the Southeast, we look forward to the cooler temperatures, crisp nip in the air and the fall colors.
Take a moment and ponder on the four seasons—God, who creates all things, incorporated the four seasons for his glory and for enjoyment—We like to complain—It’s too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter, too much rain or not enough rain, too windy or no wind at all.
Let’s be honest, we all say these things, but in the grand scheme God, in his divine wisdom, and Thank God that man can’t control the weather, knows what is best and shows man that he will provide all things for his glory and that we should be very appreciative of the rain for our flowers and crops, for the days that are just right and for the breeze in the air.
Folks, this is your choice, you can be either thankful or you can complain—Psalms 118:24 (KJV) This is the day which the Lord which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is a blessed verse especially in these days of our lives.
Let’s move forward into the First Commandment—We have established that the word commandment is a command; order; mandate; precept; law—according to Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language and that the Wycliffe Bible Commentary shares the following: On page 69, 3. The First Commandment. It prohibits worshipping or honoring anything before God, in thought or word or deed, “that in all things he might have preeminence” (Col 1:18).
Turn with me to Colossians 1:17-19) (KJV)—And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence: For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell,
God MUST have preeminence in each of us—In the life application Bible- Colossians 1:18b—so that in everything he might have the supremacy. Let’s take this a step further with a correlation: Christ was the firstborn who died on the cross (keep in mind firstborn with the first commandment) Therefore God exalted to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every other name (Philippians 2:9) and we must put Christ and God first in our thoughts and activities.
With this in mind, please review the first commandment—Exodus 20:3—Thou shalt have no other Gods before me– God must be supreme in our thoughts and activities—God is the God of order and best not take second place in anything.
Simple, one would say and a good thought, but how do you take that thought and turn it into action:
Let’s turn to John 14:15 (KJV)—Jesus says in seven words—If ye love me, keep my commandments. Now go to John 15:10 (KJV) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. So, in summary, turn to 1 John 5:3 (KJV) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. The Life Application Bible says in 1 John 5:3—This is love for God: to obey his commands, And his commands are not burdensome,
The key word is Love—Do we not owe God the same love that he has given us? I don’t know if owe is a good choice of words, but this should go much deeper—Simply put, if you love your wife, children, loved ones, friends then you don’t wish to hurt them or disappoint, so shouldn’t love to be reciprocated to God?
Do you wish to disappoint God? Do you have the same love for God that you have for family members? Do you place God first in all things? Is the first commandment burdensome? Do you obey consistently or at your pleasure? Only you can answer these questions.
In conclusion, the correlation is simple- If We Love God, if we love Christ, then we will want to glorify him by putting him first in all our thoughts and our activities.
Thank you for reading this lesson on the First Commandment and how it relates to us daily.
May God bless you and keep you safe in these turbulent times.
Jeff
