Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NLT
How many times have we read and even memorized these verses? But do we really consider what Jesus was saying in light of the times we are living in? So today and tomorrow let’s go deep and in it get us in a true mindset of thanksgiving.
Think about the first statement Jesus makes. All too often we say it in an almost prideful way, like doing it is something to boast about and make ourselves feel good. But Jesus reply came on the heels of silencing the Sadducees about marriage after the resurrection and that God is God of the living and not the dead, long after the Patriarchs had died. His answer silenced them, because the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead (so they were sad you see). That last part is a great way to remember the biggest difference between the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Any way, then when the Pharisees heard how Jesus silenced them, they had a meeting of the minds trying to come up with question to stump Him. So an “expert” in the law asked, “which is the most important command in the Law of Moses?” And He said to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.” Now I know all of those who love God long to do this, but let’s face it without the redeeming grace of Jesus that reconciles us back to our Father, it is impossible. Jesus was telling them it’s the first and greatest law, and without God Himself there is no way any one can achieve them. Perhaps this is why Jesus asked them a question, “What do you think about the Messiah? And “whose Son in He?”
The only true way we can love God with all we are is to remember how much He loves us! And Jesus came to show us the Father and His heart for us (John 14:9). When we think about how it feels when we don’t feel loved it completely changes how we see ourselves and what that does and how it affects not only our relationship with God, but others. How grateful we should be to know we don’t have to try to love Him with everything we have under our own power. Only by the power of Holy Spirit can our spirit love Him back as we are loved; totally and unconditionally. Tomorrow we will consider how knowing how much the Father loves us helps us love others.
Leave a Reply