Yes! There is Good News! 9.8.18

In our last article we were considering the topic of a “prime directive” for our lives. We first came upon the idea of the resurrection from the dead as fitting the bill. But really, this is the result of that which should be a directive for us and not the directive itself.

Perhaps we should define what I mean by this terminology. I mentioned that I had learned the term from the old TV show, Star Trek. As they set out on their journey they were given a “prime directive” from the powers that be. It took precedence over all other instructions.

The word “prime” comes from a Latin word meaning “first.” And in English we define it as “first in time, rank, authority, quality, or importance.” For our purposes, we will be looking at “first in importance.” For the word “directive” Webster tells us it is “a general instruction or order issued authoritatively.” Putting this together, we are looking for an instruction from God that is given to us and is the most important!

Wow!! This could certainly be a tough task – but let’s dig in!

This past June, I wrote a series of articles concerning being “wholehearted” in our serving God. And as I sit here I am wondering if this most important directive has anything to do with God wanting us to be wholehearted in something – let’s take a look!

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This directive from Moses to Israel is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5. This is more than a wholehearted love. It is also an “all your soul, and all your strength” love. These words carry a lot of weight.

They carry so much weight that when Jesus was asked by an expert in the law, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus quoted this very scripture in Deuteronomy. And when He finished quoting it, He said, “This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37, Mark 12:30)
Well, that wasn’t so hard was it? Jesus said it was the first (prime) and greatest commandment (directive). And here I thought it might take a couple of articles to get there. But maybe we should take some time and consider what it means to love God this way. In the book of Luke, we have this same scripture quoted from Deuteronomy but this time, it is from the mouth of a scribe who asks Jesus what must be done in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus turns the tables on him and asks him what he thinks the answer is. The scribe replies with this same scripture and Jesus responds with these words, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28)

Wasn’t it last week we were looking at the concept of resurrection – to have life eternal? We will have to look into this in the next article. Until then, think about what it means for you to love God with all that you have – the result is “good news.”