Loving God through the First Commandment

Lenten Devotional Series Day 3. Today’s meditation comes from Exodus 20:1-3.

I love good food and drink. Who doesn’t? And yet during Lent this year I am fasting from certain foods and beverages that I ordinarily enjoy very much. Why? Because as a Christian, although I love good things, I love God more. And by taking a break from some of my lesser passions for a season, I renew and strengthen my greater passion for God. Every time I think about something I’m missing during my fast, I remember my love for God as something far greater. When Easter comes, I’ll be ready once again to enjoy these good things in thankful celebration of the best.

The first commandment is reminder of our call to love God. And not just any God we choose, but the one true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the Lord’s Prayer, we are taught to pray, “Hallowed be your name.” God’s name is the one he gave to His Son (John 17:12), the name of the Holy Trinity (Matthew 28:19).

The Lord your God…

Is it enough simply to believe that God exists and is the only God? James says no–even the demons believe that much (James 2:19). How do we move beyond the faith of demons? The Lord must become our God. We must be personally committed to him. Just as he has shown his unwavering commitment and love to us in saving us from sin, so we must show unwavering commitment and love to him as our God. In response to the loving gift of his Son, we are to love him and give him all that we are (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Our whole lives are to be lives of worship (Romans 12:1-2).

…who brought you out of slavery

Does this kind of love for God sound like a burden? Far from it. In fact, the first commandment is really good news to us. Our God is the one who rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt. Likewise, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, our God is the one who rescued us from slavery to sin and death. The result is the very opposite of burdensome enslavement. In the words of one great theologian, God is the one who “directs and devotes his power, justice, wisdom and mercy to our salvation, and who offers, with singular love, to be gracious to us in his Son.”

If the Lord has become your God, then you have firsthand knowledge of his deliverance from bondage to sin and death. It is this experience of God’s mighty act of salvation that leads us to love him–more than anything else. The Lenten journey to Easter reminds us our mighty salvation in Jesus, and strengthens us to adore our God, the God who gave his Son to set us free.

Today in prayer, renew your commitment to the Lord as your God. Thank him for the gift of his only Son to set you free from sin and death. Remember the joy of this freedom and worship your God. Then conclude with the Collect of the Day.

The Collect of the Day. Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, so that worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, we may obtain from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

To learn more about loving God, join the Church of the Resurrection on retreat April 1-3 with Aubrey Spears. Sign up here.