Love God. Love people. That's it.

Today: Exodus 19-21


"Love God. Love people. That's it."


I remember hearing this quote for the first time at Trinity Western University, the Christian college I attended. It was always attributed to Professor Paul Hughes, a Religious Studies professor there. I don't know how I heard it because I never took a class from him. I tried to Google the quote today to determine its origination. Interestingly enough, the most frequently identified speaker was none other than my future husband...uh...Hillsong United's Joel Houston. :) But whoever said it paraphrased Jesus Himself when He discussed the two greatest commandments (see Matthew 22).

The quote seems so simple...but how does it connect to the ten commandments we read about in today's passage?

Leave it to another Trinity prof (I think it was Dr. Martin Abegg...) to point out the fact that all of the ten commandments tie back to one of these two "greatest commandments." If you're really loving people, for example, you're not murdering, lying or stealing from them. Likewise, if you really love God, you don't worship any other gods (people, things or ideas that are contradictory to Him). You honor God by spending time talking with Him and learning about Him (keeping the Sabbath).

Sometimes people overcomplicate what it means to live for God. They get legalistic. Rigid. But Jesus encouraged people to come to Him as little children. I have yet to meet one rigid kid. :) Kids jump on people (and things). They have fun. They get messy. They ask questions. They laugh.

To be fair, I do believe that God deserves our highest respect and honor--even in this passage, He proclaimed death for people who disobeyed Him. However, ultimately, God is love. He wants us to get to know Him and to love Him with all our hearts--and He wants us to love others. That's it.

Tomorrow: Exodus 22-24