This week we've been talking about "The Greatest Commandments". Here they are in 3 of the 4 Gospels: Matthew, Mark, & Luke, but not in John. Why not John? Well, as someone said this week in our in person WOW class, "John was the apostle of love who talked about love all the time!" Someone else said, "Yes! Just read the 4 books that John wrote: the Gospel of John and 3 letters, 1 John, 2 John, and 3rd John."
Not only do the 4 Gospel writers tell us how important loving GOD is, but let's look back in the Old Testament at Deuteronomy. In the chapter before this, Moses had just gone over the 10 commandments with the Israelites, reminding them of those 10 laws that GOD had given them about 40 years before (as told in the book of Exodus). Moses, himself, had had trouble obeying GOD all the time and he was not allowed to cross the Jordan River as they were about to do.
So, here goes! These are Moses' words after reminding them about the 10 commandments...
Deuteronomy 6:1-7 and verses following:
1"These are the commands, decrees and laws THE LORD YOUR GOD directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,
2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear THE LORD YOUR GOD as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as
THE LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR ANCESTORS, promised you.
4 Hear, O Israel: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.
5 Love THE LORD YOUR GOD
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up..."
It's interesting that Moses basically shared "The Greatest Commandment" in Deuteronomy 6, while encouraging the people to love GOD by obeying HIS commandments.
As a child, I learned the 10 commandments, but I did not memorize them until my mother-in-love taught me a little 10 point story to help me remember them. Here's her "memory hook story" followed by how to use it in memorizing the 10 commandments all wrapped up in loving GOD.
1) Your alarm clock wakes you up.
2) You put on your 2 legged pants.
3) You sit on a 3 legged stool to put on your socks/shoes.
4) You eat breakfast at your 4 legged kitchen/dining room table.
5) You do a quick 5 minute read of the news.
6) You get in your 6 cylinder car.
7) You see a policeman holding up his hand to stop people, with his finger to toes forming the shape of a 7.
8) You go through the revolving doors into the Post Office, that remind you of a figure 8.
9) You get your mail out of a mailbox that looks like one of those in the shape of a 9.
10) You go to the "old timey" Post Office window that has 10 bars between you and the clerk.
Now, enjoy meditating/memorizing the 10 commandments via this Memory Hook Story! Then, I'll meet you back here for Week 3! We love because HE first loved us!
