Wayne’s two cents worth
Leviticus
19:18
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
God has the authority to command you to love. Did
you get that? As a Christian, will you obey? His expectation is that you will…
if you love Him.
Deuteronomy
4:35
You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.
You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.
God’s Word is His witness. The Bible says it. Our
spirit, by the unction of His Spirit says, “Amen”.
Deuteronomy
6:4-5
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 strength.
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 strength.
Ephesians
3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
I hate moving furniture, especially sleeper
sofas, refrigerators and pianos. Those three items have required every bit of
strength and balance that I could muster. Every bit. But somehow, each time
I’ve had to move one of these items, I got it done. And yet, I can still feel
the pain associated with the heavy lifting required in each of these instances,
especially pianos. This is the effort God would have us to invest in our pursuit
of Him; all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. “Lord. If I give you all of
me, what’s left for me?” There’s something about ‘all’ isn’t there? Selfishly,
we have a hard time relinquishing ‘all’. I’m here to tell you beloved, there is
nothing to fear in surrendering ‘all’ to the Lord. You see, He will reciprocate
by blessing you abundantly above ‘all’ that you can ask or even think
according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus, our Lord. He’ll give you His
‘all’ for your ‘all’. Do you really want to miss out on that?
Deuteronomy
6:6-9
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
A
little extreme you think? Look around you. Extreme is an absolute everywhere
you look. The world is ‘extremely’ twisted. Indeed, the harvest is ripe, but
it’s going to take people who are extreme in their commitment to God, extreme
in their pursuit of Holiness, extreme in our love for the brethren, then beyond
that for the lost and dying..
Mark
12:28-34
[ The Greatest Commandment ] 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?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 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.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”
[ The Greatest Commandment ] 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?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 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.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying
that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 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.”
34 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.
For a moment, let your guard down, Jesus did. So
did the teacher of the law that asked Him this next question. Jesus had just
parried some tough questions from the Sadducees and this teacher had some
appreciation for the way Jesus had answered. He approached Jesus with an air
appreciation and sincerity; animosities set aside for the moment. Important for
what occurs next. Listen to Jesus’ answer, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
Jesus doesn’t argue, but rather agrees with the teacher. In doing so, he
strikes a chord of commonality and fellowship with the teacher. Wow! Really?
What happens next? Jesus continues to explore the common ground that He and
this teacher of the law share: Love the Lord with all you have within you and
love your neighbor as yourself. That’ll preach, won’t it? Sure will.. The
teacher of the law thought so too! So much so that he once again applauded
Jesus’ response, this time by affirmation and repetition.. My grandmother used
to say, “You’ll catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.” Jesus
is reeling this teacher of the law in right this moment… Here it comes.
The
teacher not only repeats the what Jesus said, but he makes the point that
loving your neighbor is more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices.
What! (this is where you hear the tires squealing as the speeding car brakes to
an immediate halt… This is truly a ‘Selah’ moment (Stop, Listen, Ponder and
Meditate on this). You see, the teacher has just stepped away from the primary
tenets of his belief system; justification by works, to a greater truth
preached by Jesus; that love covers sin. Your love for your neighbor offers
more righteousness on your behalf than any offering you could make. I’m just
saying..
Note
Jesus’ response. He makes note of the wisdom of the teacher’s response. What
did that look like? A smile? A pat on the shoulder? A chuckle from deep in his
belly? Who knows, but for just a moment He affirms this teacher of the law.
Imagine that? How many know that Jesus truly is not a respecter of persons. No
matter your position in life, your social status, Jesus love you and, if you’ll
let Him, He’ll start a relationship with you right where you are. Finally, pay
attention to Jesus’ final statement, “You’re not far from the Kingdom.”
Beloved, loving God and loving your neighbor are major tenets of every religion
known to man, but… (another Selah moment) .. the only way to the Father is
through the Son. Jesus lays out the welcome mat and …. the teacher and his
fellow religious leaders… walk away. Beloved, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and
the Life. You cannot come to the Father except by Him.
Selah,
.wb
John
14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
p.s. I’d be honored to have you view this teaching at: http://youtu.be/eD0nT3LD2vA
