Word@Work 146 - Mark 12:32-34
Published: Tue, 06/17/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 12:32-34 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no-one dared ask him any more questions. (NIV)
The rightness of God is obvious, but only to those who desire to be right with God. After Mark has recorded a battery of questions from the cynically rebellious hearts of the religious leaders, this man was willing to listen to Jesus' answer. More than that - he could see that what Jesus said made sense ... not just to his own reason, but according to the Scriptures. The Jewish creed, (Numbers 15:37-41; Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21) that he had learnt as a child, and still repeated every day, validated what Jesus said about the need to love God wholeheartedly. Samuel's rebuke to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22, shaped his response to the second part of Jesus' answer.
He knew that Jesus was right, because what He said agreed with the Scriptures. And that is still the only way to be sure of what is true. The scribe neither manipulated Jesus nor the Scriptures - he took them as having equal authority - which indeed was true.
Alas today's religious philosophers make themselves wiser than both. To defy the Scripture is to defy Jesus - and He is the Judge! To agree with Scripture, is to agree with Jesus - who is the Word of God. It is hardly surprising that the only objective reference point we have about the mind of Jesus, the Bible, is under attack. But when we love the Word of God and conform our lives to it; how well our minds are settled and what spiritual productivity results!
Prayer: Father God. Thank you that Your Word is the voice of Jesus to us. Help me to honour Your Word in my heart and practice it in my life so that the nature of Jesus may be evident to my friends and colleagues. For Christ's sake, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The rightness of God is obvious, but only to those who desire to be right with God. After Mark has recorded a battery of questions from the cynically rebellious hearts of the religious leaders, this man was willing to listen to Jesus' answer. More than that - he could see that what Jesus said made sense ... not just to his own reason, but according to the Scriptures. The Jewish creed, (Numbers 15:37-41; Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21) that he had learnt as a child, and still repeated every day, validated what Jesus said about the need to love God wholeheartedly. Samuel's rebuke to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22, shaped his response to the second part of Jesus' answer.
He knew that Jesus was right, because what He said agreed with the Scriptures. And that is still the only way to be sure of what is true. The scribe neither manipulated Jesus nor the Scriptures - he took them as having equal authority - which indeed was true.
Alas today's religious philosophers make themselves wiser than both. To defy the Scripture is to defy Jesus - and He is the Judge! To agree with Scripture, is to agree with Jesus - who is the Word of God. It is hardly surprising that the only objective reference point we have about the mind of Jesus, the Bible, is under attack. But when we love the Word of God and conform our lives to it; how well our minds are settled and what spiritual productivity results!
Prayer: Father God. Thank you that Your Word is the voice of Jesus to us. Help me to honour Your Word in my heart and practice it in my life so that the nature of Jesus may be evident to my friends and colleagues. For Christ's sake, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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