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The Ideal Follower

Old Testament

The Greatest Commandment (Deuteronomy 6):

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. […] You shall teach [these words] diligently to your children. […] It is the Lord your God you shall fear. […] You shall not go after other gods.”

“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. […] You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord […] that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers.”

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:9-18):

• Leave food for the poor: Do not collect your harvest right to the edge, do not collect fallen fruit from trees.
• Do not steal, deal falsely, or lie.
• You shall not swear on God’s name falsely or profane his name.
• Do not curse the deaf or stumble the blind.
• Do not oppress your neighbour.
• Judge with righteousness, do not slander.
• Do no injustice in court or before the law.
• You shall not hate others in your heart but reason frankly with them.
• Do not take vengeance.
• Show kindness to the poor, do not lend at a profit.

New Testament

The Greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

Other ways to follow the Lord:

• Keep the Commandments: You shall not murder, commit adultery, you shall not steal or bear false witness, you shall honour your father and mother, and love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 19:18-19).
• Sell your possessions and give to the poor: Jesus said, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)
• Anything is possible if you “have faith and do not doubt.” (Matthew 21:21)
• Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish (Philippians 2:14-15).
• Renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:12-13).
• Be submissive to rulers and authorities, be obedient, and ready for every good work, speak evil of no one, avoid quarrelling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people (Titus 3:1-2).
• Those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless (Titus 3:8-9).
• As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned (Titus 3:10-11).

Ways to Follow God or Separate Yourself from Him

(Isaiah 59:2)

Ways to bring yourself closer to God

• Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
• Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy […] but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven. […] No one can serve two masters. […] You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:19-20 and 24).
• Do not love the world or the things in the world. Love God.
• You must believe in the Son of God. Otherwise, be condemned to the wrath of God.
• Let love be genuine. Love one another with brotherly affection.
• Abor what is evil.
• Hold fast to what is good.
• Outdo one another in showing honour.
• Do not be slothful in zeal.
• Rejoice in hope.
• Be patient in tribulation.
• Be constant in prayer.
• Contribute to the needs of the saints.
• Seek to show hospitality.
• Bless those who persecute you, do not curse them.
• Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
• Live in harmony with one another.
• Do not be haughty, associate with the lowly.
• If possible, live peaceably with all.
• Never avenge yourselves, leave it to the wrath of God.
• Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
• Let your speech be gracious.
• Do the will of God.

Ways you separate yourself from God

• Failure to follow one or more of the Commandments or rules.
• Break the Holy Sabbath.
• Abominable practices: burning a son or daughter alive as an offering; divination, fortune telling, or interpreting omens; sorcerer; anyone who inquires of the dead.
• Judging others.
• What comes out of the mouth can defile a person, as it comes from the heart.

The Bible. ESV, Good News Publishers, 2007.