Monday within the Octave of the Feast of the Holy Trinity
Posted on May 27, 2024 by under
Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-15 (NKJV)
6:1 “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. 3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
10 “So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full—12 then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you 15 (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.”
Devotion
In John’s Gospel, our Lord Jesus was teaching His disciples about the Father and the works of God, and He said to them, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the very same idea as our Lord’s words in Deuteronomy 6. To show that we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength is to hear what He says and actually do it!
This is not works-righteousness. As our Savior says clearly, obeying His commands shows that we already love Him! God binds Himself to us in Baptism and places His name on us. His Spirit creates love in us and continues to teach us so that we can grow in the works and discipline that serve His kingdom. That is why He also commands His people to fill their households with His name and His teaching. Our families and homes are to manifest His love and His works.
False teachers encourage people to love in word and sentiment, but then they dismiss the importance of obedience. They twist God’s Word and despise His commands, misapplying the error of works-righteousness to the proper good works that He commands us to observe. If we say we love the Lord, but refuse to do as He commands, then we are liars. If we are of His household, we love and obey His teachings.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hast given unto us, Thy servants, grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities; Who livest and reignest, One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
