Mark 12:28-31 One of the teachers of the law came and heard
them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him,
“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important
one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is
one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
The way we love is a litmus test for our status as Christ
followers as opposed to people committed to religion. It’s easy to say we love
God. However, the ultimate demonstration of our love for Him is seen by how we
love others. Jesus laid these two laws as the foundations for following Him
because if we truly love God and love others, everything else we need to do
will fall in line. It’s a domino reaction. Our love for God helps us to attain
a healthy love of ourselves. We see ourselves through His heart and it tints
our view of how we see others. When we begin to perfect our love, we see
possibilities instead of shortcomings; we emphasize strengths instead focusing
on weaknesses; we have compassion instead of criticism; we include instead of
isolate. How are you loving others? It will speak volumes about how much you
truly love God…and yourself.
Loving Father, Help me to
get it right. Always remind me that You and Your son choose to love me even
when I am most unlovable. Let my heart be softened to love You more everyday –
so much so that it overflows to ALL those around me – not just those I find it
easy to love. Amen
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