The Fragility Of Life: Our Imperative

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first Commandment of all?’

Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the Commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first Commandment.’

Mark 12:28-30 (NKJV)

An imperative is an urgent thing: a crucial command. Jesus was quite clear in describing it. IT?

Our unequivocal and highest Order: to love God first, WITH EVERYTHING WE’VE GOT!

And if we don’t? We’re made of clay. We break! When we leave the protection of His Hand, when we strut around like tiny giants, huffing and puffing like baby Christians throwing fits when we don’t like what we see… we’ve left His will. We’ve left His protection.

So what ISN’T our Lord’s Imperative? (Specifically for self-professed Christians)

  • Loving money and all the stuff it buys.

  • Loving how we look more than how He looks.

  • Loving titles or symbols of success.

  • Loving religious symbols of worship.

  • Loving our safety more than our duty.

  • Loving family members more than Him.

  • Loving our jobs or careers more than Him.

  • Loving our own opinions more than His.

  • Loving our own ‘To Do’ list more than His

  • Pretending to love God first, when we don’t.

Bottom line: When we self-identify as Christians, we MUST bet our bottom dollar on it. We MUST live His #1 Commandment.

If we don’t, we’re cultural pretenders. We’re misrepresenting the King of kings. God forbid! 

The Fragility Of Life: Our Imperative (Part 3)

Carey Arban