Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
I don't know if our Verse of the Day sounds familiar to you, but this prayer, this instruction, is a really big deal in the Bible. As a matter of fact, in the New Testament, Jesus is asked, "What is the greatest commandment?" This verse is the answer.
What you see in the words that we just read together is sort of a capitalization of all of the things that go with life on earth relative to God. In other words, all of who you are should be submitted to Him.
Three Questions to Ask Ourselves
One of the things that's an easy evaluation of where we are relative to who God is, is to ask ourselves the questions that go with these statements. Do we love the Lord our God with all of our heart? In other words, are all of our affections, all of the things that we give our affections to, are they in alignment with and a reflection of Him?
It also says to love the Lord your God with all your soul. Our soul is in allegiance to God when we submit it to Him, but sometimes we allow our soulish desires to be satisfied by things here on earth that are not meant to and are unable to satisfy it.
Then, do you love the Lord your God with all your strength? In other words, is all that you do for the glory of God? Whatever you put your hands to, is that meant to lift up His name, or is it only about your own productivity, your own advancement in life?
All Means All
Even as I'm recounting these with you, I feel deeply convicted that there are parts of my life that are so far away from being able to say the word "all." Now, in a lot of the studies that I've given myself to, in schooling and in different classes, in different conversations I've had over years, there's a running joke that's sort of a thread through biblical studies, and it's this idea that whenever you see the word "all" in the Bible, all means all. It's not really profound. It's actually true.
What this says, in this command, is all of who you are. No hidden crevice, no area untouched. Every part of you should be submitted to God. If you've ever been wondering what is it that I should be praying today? Like, what should I be dedicating my day to? We always have the default setting of this prayer that's given to us, that we would love the Lord our God with all of who we are.
Baked Into Your Life
What's interesting is, when you keep reading underneath this instruction, it goes on to say that this is something that you shouldn't just think about once. It says that you should impress it upon your kids, you should write it down. Like this needs to be a mantra that is baked into your life at every level.
Think about it. If this is the way that we raise our kids, if this is the way that we see our relationships, if this is the way that we attend our work responsibilities, if this is the way that we choose to date or who we are in our marriage, if this becomes the grid by which we measure where we are, we're going to go a long way to bringing Him glory and honoring other people well.
Today, let this guide your path. Let this priestly prayer be the thing that guides your steps.
