SCRIPTURE: Mark (NIV) 12:28 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?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
OBSERVATION: A question that had been asked and discussed for generations was now brought to the only One who could authoritatively answer it.
What Jesus said was most important really was most important! When Jesus said there is no commandment greater than these, it means that there really are no commandments greater than these!
APPLICATION: It is proper. It is wise. It is right. It is good for me to obey God. But the motive God desires from my heart is love! God’s love for me was proved by His choice to send His son to die for my sins. I could not force Him to love me; He chose to love me.
My love for Him is proved by my choice to keep His commandments. He could force me to keep His commands, but He desires that I obey because I love Him.
And my love for Him, naturally flows out in love for others, who like myself, are created in His image.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are strong enough, you could force me. You are wise enough, you could trick me. But your love demands that I keep your commands because I love you. Amen
Pastor Leon
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