The Greatest Commandment
Holy Week // Day 2
Scripture - Mark 12:28-34 NIV
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “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 neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”
Devotional
Pop-out scripture - Mark 12:28-34 NIV
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
Throughout the Gospels, we have many accounts of Jesus teaching from these Old Testament scriptures. Jesus considered these principles to be the foundation of everything good. 1) There is only one God–Yahweh, the God of Israel, 2) you are to love that one God with absolutely every part of yourself, and 3) you are to love your neighbor as yourself. Today, ask yourself, 1) Is there anything in my life that I am more devoted to than I am to God? 2) Am I holding back any part of myself (my affections, my habits, my time) from loving the Lord? 3) Do I take care of those around me as well as I take care of myself, tending their hearts and wellbeing to keep them as safe and whole as I’d like to be?