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
Lord; 30 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 Him; 33 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)
“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
