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“affections” “Affections” we all have them. My “affections” may differ from yours; I like to fish, you may not. Just because I like to fish and you don’t does not make either of us a bad person. However, there is one “affection” that we should all have in common; everyone’s “affections” should be upon God: (Mark 12:30) “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” Yes, our love; our “affections” must be upon God. Perhaps you are wondering why I say that our “affections” must be upon God. My answer is simple; this is the truth because Jesus said that this is the “first commandment”: (Mark 12:29) “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:” With this statement Jesus is implying that our love and affections must be first upon God. Therefore, this is one “affection” that we all should have in common! Once our affections have been given to God we are traveling down the right path. In my journeys in life I have found that all paths lead to somewhere. We may not know where the path may lead when we first begin to walk it but if we keep walking we will learn where our chosen path will take us. Our path of “affection” toward God will lead us to obedience. Friends, if we truly love God we will also love His testimonies and the commandments He has given us in them: (Psa 119:167) “My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.” Notice that the Psalmist’s love for them is not a “puppy love” but he loves them “exceedingly” and so should you and I. Earlier in the Psalms we can learn a lot about the commandments of God: (Psa 19:8 – 10) “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Here we are told that the “statutes of the Lord are right”. If we keep them we cannot be wrong. Keeping the commandments of God will make the heart glad. Ivory soap may be almost pure but even it is not as pure as the statutes of God. The “statutes of the Lord” will “enlighten the eyes” I.e. they will show us our mistakes; this is very important because the “judgments of the Lord are pure”. How much value do you place upon the “statutes of the Lord?” Read verse ten again. Our “affections” should also be upon the people of God; our fellow Christians (Psa 16:3) “But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.” Do you have delight in the saints? Do you take advantage to assemble with the saints at every opportunity? If you have the proper “affections” you will! Our “affections” must also be placed on heavenly things (Col 3:1-2) “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right” hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. If you have been buried with Christ in baptism [Gal. 3:27] you have also been raised with Him and your “affections” need to be on “things above.” Getting to heaven and spending an eternity with God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and all of the saints should be your utmost and foremost goal. We are already here on earth, we need to have our “affections set on things above.” Christ wants our “affections” to be on Him FIRST:(Matt 10:37)“ He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”( Luke) 14:26 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” The message of Jesus here is not that difficult to understand; He is simply saying that He want to be FIRST in your life. Are your affections truly upon God and doing His will? Is Jesus Christ first in your life?
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