Great Commandment

When the children of Israel went into the "promised" land, two and one half of the tribes wanted to remain on the east side of the Jordan River. Moses and Joshua, the two leaders, gave permission provided that the warriors went across the river and helped the others conquer the territory. When the task was completed and the work finished, these 2 1/2 tribes were ready to go back to their families. Joshua gave them six commandments to follow:

1. Take diligent heed to do the commandments and the law.
2. To love the Lord your God.
3. To walk in all His ways.
4. To keep His commandments.
5. To cleave unto Him.
6. To serve Him with all your heart and soul.

Good advice for them and also for us today!

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


My oldest child started 3rd grade and my middle child started kindergarten this week. We are truly blessed by the education and sound biblical training and modeling they receive at their school. The teachers don't "preach" the law, they gently teach and model grace, daily. The following two verses (Christ's greatest commandment) have become a central "philosophy" of each classroom and the school as a whole:

and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)

Christian Course, No.17 (and final)

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

Pray much for the ministers and the church of God, especially, that he would carry on his glorious work which he has now begun, till the world shall be full of his glory.

Christian Course, No.16

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

In all your course, walk with God and follow Christ, as a little, poor, helpless child, taking hold of Christ's hand, keeping your eye on the marks of the wounds in his hands and side, whence came the blood that cleanses you from sin, and hiding your nakedness under the skirt of the white shining robes of his righteousness.

Christian Course, No.15

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

Do not let the adversaries of the cross have occasion to reproach religion on your account. How holily should the children of God, the redeemed and the beloved of the Son of God, behave themselves. Therefore, "walk as children of the light" and of the day and "adorn the doctrine of God your Savior." And especially abound in what are called the Christian virtues and make you like the Lamb of God: be meek and lowly of heart, and full of pure, heavenly, and humble love to all; abound in deeds of love to others, and self-denial for others; and let there be in you a disposition to account others better than yourself.

Christian Course, No.13 and 14

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

13. If you would set up religious meetings of young women by yourselves, to be attended once in a while, besides the other meetings that you attend, I should think it would be very proper and profitable.

14. Under special difficulties, or when in great need of or great longings after any particular mercy for yourself or others, set apart a day for secret prayer and fasting by yourself alone; and let the day be spent, not only in petitions for the mercies you desire, but in searching your heart, and in looking over your past life, and confessing your sins before God, not as is wont to be done in public prayer, but by a very particular rehearsal before God of the sins of your past life, from your childhood hitherto, before and after conversion, with the circumstances and aggravations attending them, and spreading all the abominations of your heart very particularly, and fully as possible, before him.

Christian Course, No.12

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

When you counsel and warn others, do it earnestly and affectionately and thoroughly. And when you are speaking to your equals, let your warnings be intermixed with expressions of your sense of your own unworthiness and of the sovereign grace that makes you differ.

Christian Course, No.11

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

When the exercise of grace is low, and corruption prevails, and by that means fear prevails, do not desire to have fear cast out any other way than by the reviving and prevailing of love in the heart. By this, fear will be effectually expelled, as darkness in a room vanishes away when the pleasant beams of the sun are let into it.

Christian Course, No.10

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

If at any time you fall into doubts about the state of your soul, in dark and dull frames of mind, it is proper to review your past experience. But do not consume too much time and strength in this way; rather apply yourself, with all your might, to an earnest pursuit after renewed experience, new light, and new lively acts of faith and love. One new discovery of the glory of Christ's face will do more toward scattering clouds of darkness in one minute, than examining old experience, by the best marks that can be given, through a whole year.

Christian Course, No.9

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

That you may pass a correct judgment concerning yourself, always look upon those as the best discoveries, and the best comforts, that have most of these two effects: those that make you least and lowest, and most like a child; and those that most engage and fix your heart, in a full and firm disposition to deny yourself for God, and to spend and be spent for him.