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Thursday, September 20, 2018

What God Wants. (Mark 10:46-12:34)



After some religious leaders questioned Jesus over different topics in order to test Him and find something to accuse him for (11:27-12:27), we read that one of the scribes came and asked Jesus  a very outstanding question:

 “Which commandment is first and most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first and most important one is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul(life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’ 31 This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] [h]love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” “(12:28b-31)
Jesus instead of highlighting one command over another, He defines the law in its essence: love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself.

In this statement we see that what God really wants from us is love.  As a commandment to follow, we can easily fall short. Especially when our neighbor is someone who annoys us, or persecutes us! Just like the Pharisees and scribes without admitting it they lived the Law but in appearance for their hearts were filled with arrogance and hypocrisy.  I sadly have to admit that I have been guilty of this too, for it is easy to pretend we love people, but deep inside things could be very different! We can obey God without loving Him, but if we do love Him obedience will follow.  

The scribe apparently understood the depth of this Truth for he said to Jesus: “Admirably answered, Teacher; You truthfully stated that He is One, and there is no other but Him33 and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to [unselfishly] love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (12:33) 

Yes, a thousand empty burnt offerings are not more to God than a single act of true love done in His name!(1 Cor. 13:3)

“Christ approved what the scribe said, and encouraged him. He stood fair for further advance; for this knowledge of the law leads to conviction of sin, to repentance, to discovery of our need of mercy, and understanding the way of justification by Christ”. M. Henry   

 “Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. 17 In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:15-17 AMP)

We need to desperately yearn for God, ACCEPT His Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and abide in Him! God is LOVE and is the fountain of Love that will fill us and then and only then, we will be capable to love others as ourselves.

“For God burns with desire for the human heart - He is the ultimate lover. He is not passive. That same burning desire is imparted to us and seals our hearts with fire. The icy waters of sin, bondage, and persecution cannot extinguish this supernatural fire of God’s love when we yield to its all-consuming power.” (iWorship Bible) (Ro. 8:35-39)

May our hearts burn with that same desire; may our hearts desire want God wants!

Blessings my sisters,

Mari