08-08-2025 PART 2: First Love and Divine Mercy

Section 1

The teaching begins in John 21:15, where Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” This simple yet profound question challenges believers to prioritize their love for God above all else. While loving others is commanded and essential, it is not the first commandment—loving God wholly comes first. The Ten Commandments mirror this order: the first three direct devotion toward God, the fourth addresses our own spiritual well-being, and the last six concern relationships with others. If we fail to love God first, our self-love and love for others can become distorted and unrighteous. The point is clear—loving God first is foundational to all other expressions of love.

Section 2

Jesus’ question to Peter underscores the importance of placing God above all human attachments, ambitions, and relationships. Our relationship with God must come before ourselves and others, because when we “lose ourselves in Him,” we truly discover who we are. The teaching warns against the mistaken notion that loving others is the same as loving God, noting that while love for others is part of our love for God, it is only a portion, not the whole. By seeking God first—His kingdom and His righteousness—we align our hearts, minds, and actions to His will, enabling us to love rightly in every direction.

Section 3

The focus then shifts to Exodus 9:14–17, where God speaks to Pharaoh during the plagues in Egypt. God declares that He could have wiped out Egypt instantly but instead chose to display escalating plagues as opportunities for repentance. Even the final plague—the death of the firstborn—was a single act in one night, in contrast to the Egyptians’ centuries-long daily slaughter of Israelite male infants. This demonstrates God’s remarkable mercy and restraint. By sparing them, God ensured that His power and name would be proclaimed throughout the earth—ironically making the Egyptians unwilling witnesses to His glory. Their story, preserved in Scripture, continues to testify of His sovereignty, justice, and mercy.