July 11, 2018 - CENTRAL COMMAND

Day 192 - (Today’s Bible readings: Numbers 15:22-41; Psalm 11; John 3:16-36)

“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” (1 John 3:23 ESV)

Central Command is a military term referring to a theater of operation in countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, most notably Afghanistan and Iraq. While the work of the U.S. Central Command is essential for the peace and stability of that region of the world, our verse from John’s first letter is of far greater importance.

What John is recording is God the Father’s central command for the inhabitants of all nations. He commands us to believe in Jesus as the only hope for our sinful world. He is commanding us to see that Jesus is the only way out of mankind’s mad desire for power and domination over others.

The picture displays, for all to see, the reason for God’s command. Jesus died for the world. Jesus died for you. Do you believe it? Does it show? John tells us that our faith in Jesus will show itself in the way we treat others. As God has loved us, so we now get to love one another. 

This is the central command of the Bible: believe in Jesus and love others. Jesus Himself put it this way:

“‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31 ESV)

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for giving me the central command to trust in Jesus and love others. Please continue to work in my life by means of Your Word and Sacraments so that my faith remains strong, and that it may remain visible in my love for others. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!