The First Commandment

“The duties required in the first commandment are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly, by thinking, meditating, remembering, highly esteeming, honoring, adoring, choosing, loving, desiring, fearing of him; believing him; trusting him; calling upon him, giving all praise and thanks and yielding all obedience and submission to him with the whole man; being careful in all things to please him, and sorrowful when in anything he is offended; and walking humbly with him.” –The Westminster Larger Catechism

Everyone of those verbs mentioned is very significant and rich in their meaning, aren’t they? As I read over them, I can clearly see how I fail to know, acknowledge, worship, and glorify God, at all times, as my only true God.

In her book “Idols of The Heart” Elyse Fitzpatrick helps partially walk us through the list:

-Thinking about God. Do I think of God continually or only infrequently, such as when I want or need something?
-Meditating on God. Do I meditate on His character- His holiness, His goodness, His love?
- Remembering God. Do I remember Him in everything I do and say, or do I rarely think of Him?
-Esteeming God. Am I highly esteeming Him, or do I highly esteem or value other things?

Those are all challenging questions, but oh so precious and convicting! If your answers were “no” to one or more, don’t be discouraged because “from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace!!!” (John 1:18)