King Jesus and the Queen City
This morning we had the privilege of hearing from Pastor Justin Taylor as he continued in our series by teaching on Matthew 22:34-40. This is a very familiar passage where the Pharisees tried to trick Jesus by asking him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus not only answers the good question, but also answers the trick within the question. Jesus’ good answer is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The heart, soul, and mind shows us that the whole being is involved and cannot be separated in worshipping. This is a unifying statement and follows God’s command of the Shema in Deut 6.:4-9.
Jesus goes on to respond to the “trick” as well in response, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” The two commandments are interconnected. The 1st command paves the way for the 2nd. If you love God, it flows out to a love for people.
Shema means, “to listen”, “to hear”, “to obey”. We love God by hearing. We love people by hearing and obeying. Jesus tells us to love others as we “love ourselves”. Healthy individuals car for themselves naturally. If you do not love yourself, you need to connect yourself to the Father and HEAR Him. There is something broken, and He is the Healer!
To discuss today
1. Are you an “all most Christian” or a person with an authentic faith? What is the difference?
2. Do you love God with all of your heart, your soul, and your mind? Why or why not?
3. Would you “get into the wheelbarrow” and give total control through faith in the Father who loves you?
Prayer
Father, thank you for your love. I want to Shema you as you speak to me through Your Word. I choose to be “all in” today and trust You to take me wherever you want me to go. Father, please increase my faith as I choose to follow You. I know I can love as you first loved me. Help me show that to my neighbors…those around me in my circle of influence. I will never perfectly love the way you love me, but I can love because You do love me!
