"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." Mark 12:29-30
Pondering this verse, I began to wonder. I made God Lord of my soul, when I received Christ as my Savior. However, keeping to allow Him to be Lord of my life: my heart, mind, and strength, is a moment by moment decision. I needed some help in getting my priorities back under the command of the Lord.
Lately, I've been reading the book of Ezekiel. There is so much more to this book than a bunch of "outdated" prophecies! Wow!
- Promises, both conditional and unconditional.
- Stories of God's care for His people.
- Great truths of personal responsibility and obedience.
- Descriptions of God's glory.
But my favorite is the phrase "they/ye shall know that I am the LORD." I started underlining every time I saw the phrase. If God says it once, it is important; but God says this many, many times in this book alone!
This phrase is usually accompanied with judgement:
- because the people had been given truth and instead, chose idolatry or disobedience.
- because the people were ignorant and rebellious.
- because the people had forgotten God.
- because the leaders and prophets were unrighteous and lead the people astray.
- because a nation had set itself against Israel.
Also, the phrase is accompanied with a new heart/promise:
- that the people would remember God again, and that God would remember His people.
- that God would establish His covenant with them.
- that they would hallow the Sabbath as a sign of sanctification (Yes! It's true: read chapter 20).
- that God would care for the remnant (those that truly loved and obeyed Him).
- that God would be glorified.
All of these are relevant truths to me today. I can apply these. I can make sure that God is LORD of my life in all: my heart, soul, mind, and strength. One verse seems to be key of this idea. God IS Lord, always WILL BE Lord, and desires to be ACKNOWLEDGED as Lord in my life, and yours. Do you know my Lord?
"Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 38:23
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