Why Two Commands Equal All Commands

Someone once “corrected” me because I said genuine love for Christ results in obedience to His commands.

She said I didn't understand grace, insisting that Jesus gave only two commands for New Covenant believers: Loving the Lord with all our hearts and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). 

She was half-right, but she didn't understand verse 40:

“The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” 

When Jesus spoke of the two greatest commandments, He was explaining that if we obeyed those two, we'd be obeying all of the others. Or if we obeyed all of the others, we'd be obeying those two. 

None of us will obey God's commands perfectly this side of heaven, but we should be seeking to do so.

Christ also made it clear that if we have no desire to obey Him, we don't know or love Him (John 14:15,21,23; John 15:10; 1 John 2:3; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6).

Obedience and good works don't earn salvation, but they prove that our salvation is genuine.

And one of Christ's last commands on earth was this:
"Go and make disciples … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:18-20  

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Note #1: There is often confusion about which of the Old Testament commands apply to us today. No need to worry. Just concentrate on all the New Testament commands and you'll be fine. If you want to read more on this subject, check out The Law Collection of four short articles.

Note #2: Some people believe that the "red letter" words of Christ are the only parts of the Bible that are 100% true. To dispel that misunderstanding, check out this link: Only the Words of Christ.

 

It's a great time to buy Wisdom for Life for gift-giving because of the great sales on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.

 

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Let's Wake Up, Prepare, and Pray!

Dear Christians, if we're not praying, preparing, and dressed in full armor (Ephesians 6:13), we are going to be silenced and deceived by the propaganda in our world. 

We must keep our focus on the Lord to experience His peace, but that doesn't mean we hide from the battle.

Have you ever wondered why Christianity is so often discredited while false religions and pagan-inspired terrorism are justified or ignored? Have you ever wondered why our world promotes pride in sexual lifestyles that damage people's souls but takes no pride in purity? 

Have you ever wondered why paganism is slowly creeping into secular and Christian culture disguised as exercises, healing methods, and personality tests? (See Discernment: Use It or Lose It)

Satan promotes evil as good and good as evil. If you haven't noticed that he targets Christianity and protects false beliefs, you need to wake up, dear Christians. He hates the true and living God and loves to see people choose an eternity in Hell.

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

Let's wake up, clear any pagan propaganda from our lives, and seek the Lord wholeheartedly, sharing His life-saving truths with the world! Ephesians 5:15-16

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For more encouragement, see How David Slew Goliath, and Battleground or Playground?

If you're not already a subscriber, please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. You'll receive a one-minute video in your email each weekday. 

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The One Thing that Always Damages Relationships

Selfishness kills relationships.

That's why there are so many divorces, broken friendships, and parent-child estrangements.

If we're interested in healthy relationships, we must be sensitive to the needs, desires, and interests of others, not simply our own. 

This doesn't come naturally to us. That's why Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us: 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of the others.” 

This doesn't mean we deny our genuine needs to serve other people's selfish desires. It means we put the needs of others above our selfish desires. It means our lives reflect the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

From time to time, we should examine our relationships and ask God if we are doing our best to consider the needs and desires of others.

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These one-minute devotions can help:

7 Ways to Walk in the Opposite Spirit

Ignoring the Golden Rule

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How Proverbs 15:1 Can Help Us Respond to Half-Truths and Lies

I’m studying effective ways to respond when people share half-truths, and Proverbs 15:1 is helpful:  

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

I’ve written about asking questions when evangelizing (Pause, Ask, and Listen), and the same is applicable when dealing with half-truth lies.

In Tactics,(1) Gregory Koukl talks about a store clerk wearing a pentagram necklace. He asked her if it had special meaning, and the clerk explained she was Wiccan, a follower of “an earth religion” which she said respects all life. 

Koukl said, “Then I suppose you’re pro-life.” But she made it clear she was pro-choice. 

He asked her why unborn life wasn’t a type of life she respected, and she looked confused, admitting she wasn't sure. 

Because of the line of people waiting, Koukl couldn’t pursue it further, but he left her with a seed of doubt about her paganism.(2) 

This made me think of a few situations where I’ve immediately disagreed when a Christian promoted a half-truth belief in a Bible study. I haven’t been rude, but my bluntness didn’t promote discussion. 

I want to adopt a Proverbs 15:1 attitude in future discussions, pausing to ask appropriate questions that will hopefully make the other person think about their illogical beliefs. Even if I don't convince the other person, perhaps I can plant seeds of doubt that will gradually change their views.

There are many half-truth lies circulating in the world and in the church. Let’s be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

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See What It Means to Be as Shrewd as Snakes. 

I'm excited about my book, Lies in Disguise, which will be released in October '25. It offers biblical answers for uncovering the errors in half-truth beliefs. 

(1) Tactics, by Gregory Koukl, copyright 2009, 2019 Zondervan Reflective, pages 27-31. You can read the full story on Amazon. Just click “Read sample” under the picture of the book. The sample includes these pages.

(2) John 4:35-38 explains that some people sow seeds for the gospel and others reap the benefits. Even if we don't share the full gospel message, we are planting seeds that can lead to a person's salvation. There were a number of people and circumstances in my life that brought me to faith. 

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Finding Our “Happy Place”

Today I'm sharing one of the devotions from my book Wisdom for Life. I hope you enjoy it!

The everyday stresses of life can weigh me down at times. That’s when I want to steal away to a “happy place” to refresh and renew my mind and find some peace. Do you ever feel that way? 

Guess what? We Christians can do that whenever we want. And we don’t even need to change our location. In fact, when we feel overwhelmed, it’s a sign that we’ve left our “happy place” and ventured into life carrying our own burdens instead of casting them on the Lord (Ps. 55:22). 

Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him! (Ps. 34:8) 

  

How happy is the one you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple. (Ps. 65:4) 

How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually. (Ps. 84:4) 

The Lord is our “happy place,” and we have an open invitation to come to Him: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). 

For Further Thought

Why not memorize one of the verses in this devotion so you can recite it when you are feeling overwhelmed and need to remember your “happy place.”

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For more wisdom from the Psalms, read Finding Strength in the Psalms, and I hope you will check out Wisdom for Life:

💙 The Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life features 100 one-minute devotions like this one, focusing on Psalms and Proverbs. It's on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

If you purchased Wisdom for Life from Lifeway, Amazon, or CBD, and you've enjoyed it, please leave a review. It helps others know what to expect. 

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A Four-year-old, an Old Typewriter, a Spiritual Truth

As a writer, I love old typewriters, and I have an antique one on display in my office.

When my grandchildren were small, I gave them instructions not to play with it. I know how excited and careless playful children can be, and I was afraid they might damage it.

But I will never forget the day when my four-year-old grandson stood next to the typewriter, looked me in the eye, and said, "Grammy, sometimes my hand just moves over there and plays with that typewriter."

I tried not to laugh, but I couldn't help but smile when I told him he would have to control his little hand. His four-year-old confession was an excellent illustration of the excuses we humans use to justify our sins. 

He didn't really admit fault. It was his hand that was the problem, not his heart.

We humans are great at blame-shifting, excusing, sidestepping, and redefining our sins. We see it in culture when people deny the obvious design in creation, taking pride in harmful behavior. And, if we're honest, we sometimes see it in ourselves.

1 John 1:9-10 tells us that whenever we excuse or redefine sin, we're calling God a liar—a sober warning.

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If you'd like to read some other lessons my grandchildren have taught me, see "Grammy, I Don't Love You Anymore" and Have You Folded Any Socks Today? 

If you've purchased Wisdom for Life, I suggest you read or reread Day 74 to reinforce the truths in this devotion and discover the interesting story behind my antique typewriter. 

If you haven't purchased Wisdom for Life, check out the sales on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

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Beware of Yoga, Reiki, and the Enneagram

Pagan practices drew the Israelites away from God, and they do the same with modern Christians.

Promising spiritual, emotional, or physical benefits, pagan practices inspire an unrealistic loyalty. Christians become dependent, losing some of their discernment, and it causes some to lose their faith completely. 

Here are a few examples that have a growing loyalty among Christians: 

Yoga is a Hindu ritual with a Hindu name, based entirely on Hindu movements of worship. But it's sold to the public as simply an exercise and method of relaxation. Once addicted, Christians insist it is harmless and even try to combine it with Scripture meditation. Learn more about yoga's paganism: Examining Yoga Biblically and Should Christians Practice Yoga?

Reiki is a Japanese technique that is based on the pagan belief that an unseen ‘life force energy’ flows through us and keeps us alive. Reiki claims to spiritually guide people's life force energy, promoting well-being and healing. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words—Rei, which means ‘God's Wisdom or the Higher Power,’ and Ki, which is ‘life force energy’ (reiki.org). Learn more about Reiki: Got Questions.

Enneagram, a practice with growing popularity among Christians, was introduced by a New Age mystic and promoted by New Agers. See Why Christians Should Avoid the Enneagram. 

Even though God strongly warns against pagan practices, many Christians defend them, insisting they're healthy and harmless (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). 

Please don't be taken in by these claims, dear Christians! And steer clear of any Christian teacher who uses or promotes these things.

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Listen to the warnings of those who were once advocates for these practices.

Listen to this interview with a  former New Age Guru Should Christians Practice Yoga?

Listen to a former Reiki master: Why Christians Should Avoid Reiki and Energy Healing.

Listen to a former New Age teacher: The enneagram: Personality test or guide to the occult.

 

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Celebrate Jesus!

God commanded us to observe the Sabbath, a day to rest and refocus on the Lord (Exodus 20:8). 

Sadly, by the time Jesus came to earth, the Pharisees had turned the Sabbath into a burdensome, legalistic observance. Their man-made rules distorted the meaning and purpose of the Lord's Day (John 7:21-24, Luke 6:1-10).

God's purpose for the Sabbath and other special holidays (holy days) is to help His people remember and celebrate His love and faithfulness (e.g., Passover). 

Although we can rest in Christ's love daily, it's healthy for us to have a day each week to refresh ourselves physically and spiritually, a day to celebrate our salvation, God's Word, and Christian fellowship.*

 

It's also good to step back from time to time to ask ourselves if we've let elements of our faith become legalistic and burdensome.

 

If our Sabbath has lost some of its meaning, we can consider ways to make it more meaningful. We can also create monthly, quarterly, or annual family traditions to celebrate our faith. And let's be sure to plan ahead to joyfully and deliberately celebrate The Two Most Important Days in History.

 

I'd love to hear your ideas for celebrating your faith. Why not leave them in a comment.

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Check out this devotion for some ideas: 5 Creative Things Christians Can Do to Improve Well-being.

 

Additional Notes:

 

* The Sabbath commandment is the only one of the Ten Commandments not restated in the New Testament. This may be because every day is a Sabbath to the Christian. After all, we can “rest” in the finished work of Christ (Hebrews 4). See Is One Day Holier than Another.

 

Sadly, some Christians still view the Sabbath very legalistically. They judge other Christians by the day of the week they celebrate the Lord's Day, violating the commands in Colossians 2:16:  

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”

Let's celebrate the Sabbath according to our conscience and not judge others who celebrate it differently.

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Never, Never Forget This Important Aspect of True Faith!

God loves us and He's given us His wonderful Word. Let me name a few of the millions of awesome things about God's Word: 

✔ It’s not like human books. It's powerfully alive and active (Hebrews 4:12).

✔ It’s necessary in forming faith, correcting misunderstandings, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

✔ It’s 100% reliable (Proverbs 30:5).

✔ It’s life-giving nourishment for our souls (Matthew 4:4).

“A recent LifeWay Research study found only 45 percent of those who regularly attend church read the Bible more than once a week. Over 40 percent of the people attending read their Bible occasionally, maybe once or twice a month. Almost 1 in 5 churchgoers say they never read the Bible—essentially the same number who read it every day.” (Source)

This is sad and dangerous. Without a growing knowledge of God’s Word, we remain baby Christians, never fully understanding God’s plans and purposes for our lives (Ephesians 2:10). We’ll be unable to understand how biblical truths fit together (2 Timothy 2:15). And we’ll be easily taken in by half-truth lies.

If you are neglecting God’s Word, I encourage you to take a couple of days to carefully read through Psalm 119, noting what it teaches us about God’s Word and our attitude toward it. 

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I'm presently working on the final edits of my book Lies in Disguise which is scheduled to come out in October 2025. It reveals many of the half-truths that have disguised the real teachings of Scripture and misled many of God's people.

For examples of some of the things that are deceiving many Christians, see: 3 Lies that Deceive Us and Lies about Jesus: Shame and Guilt.

 

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"Why Obey Commands that Cause Abuse?"

A woman asked why I believe in male leadership in church and home when it so often causes abuse. 

In When Male Leadership Is Misused, I explained: “When people abuse God’s commands, that doesn’t mean the command is wrong. It means the person is wrong.” 

We don't give up on traffic laws because of reckless drivers, and we don't blame rape laws for the cruelty of rapists. Why do we blame God's leadership laws for bad leaders? 

And when it comes to “abusing” God's Word, recent studies show that a majority of female pastors lead the way, choosing human wisdom above God's wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:18-20). 

For example, 77% of women clergy support abortion, compared to 44% of male clergy. And 58% of female pastors support LGBTQ marriage, compared to 27% of male pastors. 

It's sad that any pastor chooses to abuse Scripture, but female pastors are leading the way. 

Don't think that I'm excusing sexual abuse in the church—it's evil to the core. But the number of people hurt by that abuse pales in significance to the number of babies murdered by abortion and the number of souls damaged by LGBTQ lifestyles. 

Women can utilize their leadership and teaching skills in appropriate ways in the church, but God has designed men to hold the positions of pastor and elder. If we reject the Bible's commands about leadership, it's inevitable that we'll reject other biblical commands.

Stand firm, dear Christians. Let's trust God's wisdom, not our own (Proverbs 3:5-6)!

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This is part of a series of devotions on male leadership:

Part 1: Think God Needs "Updating"? Think Again!

Part 2: Women in Church Leadership: Complementarian or Egalitarian? 

Part 3: When Leadership in the Church Is Misused  

Part 4: My Response to Male Leadership in the Church 

Part 5: Egalitarians Actually Hold a Low View of Women and Scripture. Answering a reader's questions from Part 4.

Part 6: Examining a False Claim regarding Female Leadership

Part 7: Women's Roles: The Message of 1 Timothy 2

Part 8: What Do Adam and Eve Have to Do with Male Leadership?

Part 9: Leadership and the Fall of Mankind

Part 10: When Women Should Be Silent in Church

Part 11: When I Violated Scriptural Guidelines

    

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