From the Pulpit: ‘Loving God is an exclusive relationship’
Jesus was asked, “What is the most important 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.”
The Mosaic law contained over 600 laws and regulations for the Jewish people to follow. The person who asked Jesus this question was a Pharisee. The Pharisees were an expert, conservative sect of Judaism which studied the law. Essentially, Jesus was being tested. Under this inspection, Jesus pointed the Pharisee and us to the heart of God’s law.
One of the reasons that our culture still finds reasons to push back on God’s Holy Law is because it leaves us no excuses. As Americans, we truly have adopted that idea that we are ‘free’. The idea of freedom is a popular, modern idea. The freedom that we experience is to be treasured, valued and protected. Living free is why so many people choose a state like South Dakota, increasingly more in the last fice years. However, freedom must have limits.
Christ came to seek and save the lost, to set captives free, to heal the sick. It is the mission of Christ followers to announce this freedom, this Good News to that who are lost, locked up, and suffering. The weak, the poor, and the outcast are those for whom Jesus came. If we are to experience freedom, true spiritual freedom, it starts with recognizing our true spiritual condition.
God’s law expressly prohibits an ‘open’ relationship. Jesus makes it clear that God commands an exclusive place of priority. As image bearers, God has given each of us freedom to choose if we will worship God exclusively, Jesus reminds us that you can’t have multiple priorities. Loving God is an exclusive relationship, in which we learn about how to love ourselves and others.
What is your No. 1 priority? Who receives all your love and attention? May I encourage you to seek a relationship with the creator of the universe, through His only Son, Jesus Christ. ho through Him, we can be made right with God.
