Together in Christ: 'Most Important!' — Matthew 22:35-37

God began His ten commandments with these words:

"I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
"You must not have any other god but me.
"You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods."  ^[1]

God's commandments are based on the identity of God, Who revealed Himself as YHWH. ^[2] His identity is the foundation on which we must build our lives, find meaning, determine morality, and pursue character. To allow anyone, or anything, to reign on the throne of our heart is to dishonor God. However, more than wanting to demand our allegiance, God wants us to look at all He has done for us in His creation and His gift of Christ and love Him. ^[2] So, when religious leaders asked Jesus what the most important commandment is, He didn't hesitate. We are to love God with all we think, feel, and do. YHWH must be the ordering center of our lives. Our lives must find their orbit around God and His love, grace, and mercy. As Paul told the Romans:

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing your thoughts. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.^[3]