HONOR GOD BY LOVING OTHERS, NOT JUDGING THEM

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Harry pointed out that judging others and honoring God are non-homogenous principles.  I have struggled with grace and judgment for most of my life.  I have always tended to be judgment-dominant, but the more I allow the Holy Spirit to lead my life the less judgmental I am.  I’m not saying that Christ has completely changed me in that regard, only that spiritual maturity has soaked in at least some.  When we love God, we are obedient to His commands, a major one of which is to love others.

Deuteronomy 6:1-2;5 (NKJV)1 “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, 2 that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

Think of the question asked of Jesus in Mark 12: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  Jesus’s response was not a surprise to His audience, for it was the response of the great Jewish prayer, the Shema.

We make the mistake of viewing love and obedience as two very different concepts. But in Deuteronomy 6 we see how they cannot be separated. 

Augustine gave interesting advice when he said, “Love God, then do as you please.” If we love God sufficiently to want to do what is pleasing in His sight, then we need never worry about our conduct, because actions that will not please God will also not please us.

To fear God is to know that He is the center of the universe and we are not. Only when we see God for who He is can we then respond out of worship and gratitude. 

Honor God – Be love dominant.