The great commandment for God's people

The great commandment for God's people

S - 

12 "Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,13 and to keep the Lord's commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?14 "Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.15 "Yet on your fathers did the Lord set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day.16 "So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.17 "For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.18 "He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.19 "So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.20 "You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.21 "He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.22

Deut 10:12-22 (NASB)

O -  God's common gifts to mankind oblige us to honour all men. And those who have themselves been in distress, and have found mercy with God, should be ready to show kindness to those who are in the like distress. We are here taught our duty to ourselves. Circumcise your hearts. Cast away all corrupt affections and inclinations, which hinder you from fearing and loving God. By nature we do not love God. This is original sin, the source whence our wickedness proceeds; and the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be; so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God, Rom 8:5-9. Let us, without delay or reserve, come and cleave to our reconciled God in Jesus Christ, that we may love, serve, and obey him acceptably, and be daily changed into his image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord. Consider the greatness and glory of God; and his goodness and grace; these persuade us to our duty

  —Matthew Henry Concise

True fear and true love are complementary and inseparable. They are the response of a true heart to God's majesty and goodness, respectively, and together they are productive of wholehearted service in obedience to all God's good pleasure. 16. Circumcise... your heart. Such genuine devotion can flow only from a heart that has experienced the reality of that qualification which was symbolized in the initiatory sign of the covenant (cf. 30:6; Ex 6:12, 30; Lev 26:41; Jer 6:10; 9:25, 26).

   —Wycliffe Bible Commentary, The

(my observation)

  Final preparations for being God's people.  These verses above are repeated (or at least the same heart is) throughout the scriptures, and Jesus finally made this conclusion when asked by a pharisee what is the greatest commandment,   and Jesus replied "to love the Lord, your God, with all your hearts, minds, souls and strength;  and to love your brother as yourself".     This is the "Great commandment",  and it was not simply so because Jesus said it was, it was God's message to His people from the beginning. Here we see Moses replanting that message in the heart of the people of Israel as they get ready to enter the promised land.   

A -   The application for me is to recognize in my relationship with God I am am to fear Him for who He is , is beyond all comprehension, is knowledge, and strength are above all,  He is an awesome God. This fear is one of high reverence to one supremely superior, and not a worrisome fear.    I am to love God, because He loved me first.  He has shown me mercy, and love that I did not earn, nor deserve, and out of humble response I am to love him by my attitudes, words, and actions.  All that said, in order to love God I must start loving like God, with mercy, grace, and unconditionally my fellow man.  

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your discipleship, through your word and your spirit.  I pray Lord that I would continue to grow in your ways, that you would transform me more and more to live my life like your son Jesus.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.