Word@Work 145 - Mark 12:29-31
Published: Mon, 06/16/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 12:29-31 "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 neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (NIV)
In response to the question, "Which is the most important commandment?", Jesus appears to give two answers. In fact, He only gives one. By using the singular, 'commandment', with the plural, 'these', He makes clear that the two commandments are one. And more than that, these two summarise all of the Old Testament laws.
God has not invented a hierarchy of laws. In His perfect world, everybody is to consider Him as always supreme and right and true, and to regard others as no less than ourselves. It is a world in which God is the centre (and not us), and in which others are never beneath us (indeed we are to serve each other). It is a world in which there is no place for self serving, demanding egos - a place where the Lord is adored for who He is and those who adore Him, give Him their all! Such a world would be heaven ... and it is!
Our preparation for eternity with God, is learned by taking our focus off ourselves and putting it, fully and gladly, onto the Lord. The way we live now, marks how much we long for His presence. We do not estimate this by some mystical feeling, but by our devotion to our Saviour and our willingness to serve others for His sake. The workplace is a good environment to practice!
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for making my obligation to You so straightforward - to love You and to serve others. Help me to do both, today and all this week. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
In response to the question, "Which is the most important commandment?", Jesus appears to give two answers. In fact, He only gives one. By using the singular, 'commandment', with the plural, 'these', He makes clear that the two commandments are one. And more than that, these two summarise all of the Old Testament laws.
God has not invented a hierarchy of laws. In His perfect world, everybody is to consider Him as always supreme and right and true, and to regard others as no less than ourselves. It is a world in which God is the centre (and not us), and in which others are never beneath us (indeed we are to serve each other). It is a world in which there is no place for self serving, demanding egos - a place where the Lord is adored for who He is and those who adore Him, give Him their all! Such a world would be heaven ... and it is!
Our preparation for eternity with God, is learned by taking our focus off ourselves and putting it, fully and gladly, onto the Lord. The way we live now, marks how much we long for His presence. We do not estimate this by some mystical feeling, but by our devotion to our Saviour and our willingness to serve others for His sake. The workplace is a good environment to practice!
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for making my obligation to You so straightforward - to love You and to serve others. Help me to do both, today and all this week. For Jesus' 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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