In Mark 12:28-31 when Jesus was asked which commandment was most important he responded: "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Isreal: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.'" (The Message)
We've heard it before. We may have memorized it. It may be on a piece of ceramic or a wall hanging in our homes. But do we live it?
Not an easy question...and maybe it's so hard because if I truly love God that much there is a lot I might need to give up. You know...like our home, second car, living near family, eating at restaurants, vacation trips...the little luxuries we take for granted.
And then there is that "love others" part. Really, God, you want me to love that disrespectful, nasty neighbor? The self-centered in-law who always hurts my feelings? The person at church who is always stirring the pot?
So I read the scripture again and I ask God: "Is that what You want?" And He says, "YES."
Lord, Help me love You so much that Your love will shine through me to the "unlovable" people in my life.
Linda
It is so hard for people to love themselves; therefore even harder to always love others.
ReplyDeleteIf we just put as much passion into our Christian belief as we do watching sports or American Idol.