Two Commandments

by Paul and Lori Carhart

This message was originally given by Paul Carhart at the Launch Pad gathering on October 18, 2008 and was followed by an extended worship time.

We've often heard that actions are louder than words. It is not merely a cliché but a biblical truth.

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." - 1 John, 3-18

Indeed, we can profess love for someone or something, but our actions may betray where we truly stand.

For example, a man may say he loves his wife but if he is not faithful to her… if he betrays her… if he beats her. I would question the worth of his statements.

Likewise, a woman may say she love s her child, but if she locks the child in a closet or beats the child in a way that goes far beyond simple discipline…. Again I would question her love.

And if a person says he or she loves God but then they go out and partake in any manner of worldly elements that God has clearly taken a stance against, well you know where I'm going.

In writing, there's an oft-repeated rule: "Show, don't tell." Again, when telling a story, the plea is to show an action… to have something occur "on stage" rather than merely impart the facts of an action. When something is shown, it is immediate, passionate, important. The reason this is true in telling a story is because it is true in our every day lives.

Commanded to Love

God gave Moses Ten Commandments by which His people should live. By the time Jesus had come upon the scene, many other rules and regulations had sprung from those original commandments. So Jesus simplified it even more.

"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." - Matt 22-37-40

In these two commandments given by Jesus, all of the ten given to Moses are fulfilled.

The first commandment here is to love the Lord your God. Just as in the examples I've previously given, we can say we love God. Or we can show him.

How do we show God we love Him?

The best way to know what it is that God wants on any given subject is to see what he says on the matter. He left us His word for just this purpose.

Naturally, there is the obvious answer.

"The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways." - Deut. 28:9

We are meant to do our best to follow God's laws. Of course, we know it's impossible for man to do this. That's why there's grace. That's why there's forgiveness. It's why Jesus came and died on the cross. Still, we are meant to do our best.

There is another way, above and beyond doing our best to follow God's commandments, to show God that we love Him.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. - John 4:23

I'm emphasizing the last part of this scripture because the Bible clearly declares that God is "seeking such to worship Him." He longs for those who love Him to worship Him!

Again, we can say we love God until the cows come home but how do we show Him? Are we doing our best, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live a righteous life? Have we incorporated worshipping God into our every day lifestyle?

What about the second Commandment?

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. - 1 John 4:7-8

Also:

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. And everyone who loves Him who begets also loves him who has been born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, whenever we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? - 1 John 5:1-5

The Bible makes it clear that we are not to merely stop with loving God. In many ways, it's easy to love God. I mean, God loves us, right? When someone loves you, the natural inclination is to return that love. But what about those who hate you? Again, the Bible makes it clear.

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you." - Proverbs 25:21-22

Again, loving your neighbor, whether they are friendly or hateful toward you, is more than merely stating it. Loving is an action. It requires you to act.

Perhaps the most important way we can show "our neighbors" love is by telling them about God. Sometimes people are open to evangelism. They want to know more about God. Sometimes, they are not. They do not want to be "Bible-thumped." That's okay. We can still show God that we love our neighbors by praying for people, not only their well-being in time of need, but for their salvation, even when they think everything is fine.

Again, worship comes into play. Heartfelt worship flowing from God's people can bring healing, deliverance, and even salvation.

Summary

- Love is professed by actions, not merely words.

- God longs for those who love Him to worship Him.

- Through the act of worship, we can fulfill both of the commandments that Jesus gave, and thus fulfill the Ten Commandments in our lives.

- What better way to truly let God know that we love Him?