The Most Important Words in the Bible by PITTS EVANS for Charisma News
The Jewish sages tell us that there are 613 commandments. When Jesus was asked which He considered to be the most important, He responded with this direct quote from the book of Deuteronomy, “‘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 mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:28-30, quoting Deut. 6:4-5, NIV).
Friends, why does Jesus say this is the most important command in the entire Bible?
This is the great declaration of monotheism, expressing God’s complex unity as one: His mysterious triune nature, consisting of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus first identified our unique God and, pointing to Him, then explained why mankind was created: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Deut. 6:5).
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Jesus later prayed for us to collectively share spiritual oneness with God, “Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us … I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:21; 23). His highest desire is that we would become one with each other and God. We were born to be together with God in a monogamous and loving eternal relationship.
My dear friend the late Wade E. Taylor used to say that God’s favorites were those who responded to His heart’s cry: “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Prov. 8:17, KJV). Of course we know that God loves mankind, but He is drawn to those who respond to His affection. Our all-sufficient God desires our love above everything else. Something deep within the heart of God calls to the deep places of love within us.
Like our Creator, we each express more love toward those who love us and, using the oneness of our triune God as the standard, we must lovingly become one in Christ. Jesus is revealing heaven’s highest purpose for our time on earth. We must collectively come to know and love the one true God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.
