Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 28, 2024
Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together. 35 One of them, a legal expert, tested him. 36 “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being,and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it:You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Good Morning! Love God and love your neighbor as yourself!
The message is straightforward and simple, yet we continue to struggle with fulfilling God’s commandments. As humans, we seem to think for something to be complete, it must be complicated. How can the message be this simple?
When I think of the great theologians and followers of Christ who have debated what we must do to walk like Christ, I see that we are still as blind as the Pharisees of Jesus’ time on earth. Christ stripped away all of the confusion and wiggle room and simply said, “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and Love your neighbors as yourself.”
Instead of striving to fulfill these commandments, we look for loopholes and work to show that we are the only ones doing it right.
“In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.” What are the essentials: “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and Love your neighbors as yourself.” If we focus on these, everything else will work itself out.
Encouraging God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. To God be the glory in all things. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: First, practice loving God and one another.
Love God! Love One Another! Pastor Liz
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