Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Leviticus 19:18

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] 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. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Lev 19:18

¹⁸ “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbours yourself. I am the Lord.

There is a mezuzah nailed to the doorpost of my bedroom. For me personally, it serves as a visual reminder to love God first and foremost and as a result of that love I am to do the same towards others. There are times when I fail miserably at this commandment, but when I enter my room at the end of a long day this symbol reminds me to ask myself these questions, “Have you loved God today? Have I loved my neighbor today?” The answer varies, but God’s promise doesn’t. He is graceful and forgiving and if we are willing to be open to his love, correction and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He shows us how we are not being loving towards Him and His creation. God’s love is unconditional and with each day is another chance to continue growing in our love for Him and for others.

Application: 

Ask yourself, “Do I see God’s commandments as punishment or do I view them as His love for us?” Would you say that God’s commandments are written on your heart?

If there are any of God’s commandments that you struggle with, pray and ask God to help you in that area. Pray that you will see His commandments as an offer of love instead of rules to live by or punishment.

Ask yourself, “Do I tend to get even with people when they hurt my feelings or have done something wrong towards me?” If you answered yes to this question, ask God to reveal to you ways in which you have been grudgeful, vindictive or revengeful towards others. This is more difficult than you may think; ungodly ways of reacting towards people when we are hurt can be subtle sometimes, to the point where we don’t even realize it.

May you continue to see, feel and believe in God’s love as He lovingly reveals to you areas in your life that are lacking in love. Blessings!