November 5, 2006am   Heart, Soul, and Might?    Deuteronomy 6:1-9

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

We have reasoned that there must be more to life than meets the eye.  We can see the nature of God’s creation and realize that everything has been created and organized with a purpose and a design.  Just as when we look at a clock we realize there is a clockmaker.  We look at creation and realize there is a creator.  Do we know who that creator?  Do we love God?  Do we worship God?  How do we love the Lord? What is the first and greatest commandment?  What does God want? 

6:1 Now this is the commandment--the statutes and the ordinances--that the LORD your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, 2 so that you and your children and your children's children, may fear the LORD your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel : The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

A.  The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  (Also in Mark 12:28–31).  Jesus said that verses 4-5 are the first and greatest commandment.  Is the Lord your God?  Is your God the Lord alone?  Have you chosen the Lord?  Do you know that He has chosen you?    Is He your only God?  Have you given yourself to the One who gave His life for you? 

B.  Love the Lord. 

·         Heart/mind:  Your mind that is the core of your being.  It is your spirit, passion, compassion, sympathy, empathy, affection, concern, center, and core.   All that you long for and live for.  You will love God and all that he stands for with all your heart.  You will love all that He loves.  You will hate all that he hates.  Believe in Him and live for Him.  Serve Him and follow Him.  Jesus said that you must be born again from above.  Be born from above by being born within your mind.  John 3:3. 

·         Soul/spirit:  This is your spiritual life, your essence, psyche, person, and character.  This is that which you are.  All that makes you live.  Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. You have been changed from the inside out. Keep His commandments.

·         Might/strength:  This is your physical life, power, force, and capacity. That which powers your breath, your heart, and your life.  Do you love Jesus?  Then feed his sheep. Care for the lost, the lonely, and the least as Jesus did. These are his sheep.  John 21:17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.