MARCH 7TH, 2004
DEUTERONOMY 6:3-5
Introduction - God wanted only good things for the children of Israel.
1. God wants it to “be well with thee.” (3)
2. God wants you to “increase mightily.” (3)
3. God wants to take you to the lands “that floweth with milk and honey.”
***How can these things happen? Observe to do the statutes and the commandments of God.” (2-3)
I. What is God’s greatest desire for you?
A. You have many desire s, but the greatest desire that you have is to be loved.
1. The greatest desire that man has is to be
loved.
“Do you love me?” is a question that is often asked.
2. You may have many things, and desire many things, but you have a basic human need to be loved.
B. God’s greatest desire for you is that you love Him. (4-5)
1. God desire for you to keep the Ten Commandments.
2. God desires for you to enjoy life and family.
3. But God’s greatest desire is that you love Him. (5)
C. The Lord Jesus explained this in Matthew 22:35-40.
1. All of the other commandments pale in light of this commandment.
2. This is the first of importance – (Matthew 22:40)
3. All the other laws “hang” on this command, and loving people.
II. We tend to emphasize actions that demonstrate love more than love itself.
A. Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:40, make it clear that the motive behind our obedience is love for God.
1. You cannot keep the Ten Commandments if you do not love God because they “hang” on love for God.
2. These commandments were given by God to people who were supposed to keep them out of love.
3. These commandments were not expected to be rigid orders but expressions of our love for God.
4. We are to obey because we want what is best for God – the fulfillment of His desire to be loved.
- All that God has ever wanted from you is for you to love Him.
B. The following verses emphasize the importance of loving God:
1. I John 4:19, I Peter 1:8 and Psalm 18:1.
2. The greatest example that I can think of any part of the Trinity desiring an expression of human love is John 21:15-17.
- Three times in a row the Lord Jesus asked: “Do you love me” and three times in a row the Lord Jesus heard “I love you.”
Conclusion: Whenever the Ten Commandments are displayed in a room they are hanging on a wall.
Whenever the Ten Commandments are displayed in a Christian’s life they are hanging on the wall of your love for God.
- Have we emphasized the commandments so much that we have de-emphasized the very thing that puts them on display – Our love for God.