~~~ Hosea 14: 2-10 ~~~ Psalm 81 ~~~ Mark 12: 28-34 ~~~
I have had students who could recite back information but not understand the meaning of the words. Several birds can learn to speak very clearly what they hear. A parrot speaks without comprehension of the sounds it makes. Young children can use words heard from their parents without having a clue as to what they mean.
The scribes come to Jesus inquiring about the most important commandment. Jesus responds, "...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."
How can we make this kind of love more than just mere words? How do we love the Lord with heart, mind, soul, and strength? I think if we look at love as an action word and not an emotion; we will have something more tangible. Love is a decision you make each and every time you 'feel' love. Yes it is true there are certain chemicals released into the brain when two people are 'in love', but those chemicals eventually dissipate throughout your body.
Love is not dependent on the words you choose to say. Love has more to do with your actions. Are you living your life in a loving manner? Do you consistently treat others the way you hope to be treated? God has placed into each heart the desire and capacity to love him.
When I witness the loving interaction between a mother and her baby I am reminded of the way God wants us to love him. But more than that it is the model for how God wants us to love others and how we are to ultimately love ourself.
If we want to grow in fulfilling this commandment of love we should consider how we choose to love those around us. It is easy to love those we feel in harmony with, that is not the issue here. It is those 'other' people that we do not 'feel' like loving that Jesus is directing us to love. This is where strength from God is a necessity. It is so much easier to dismiss those we would rather not love; those who do not fit into our picture of who we are willing to love.
We rarely have our picture taken with those we do not already love. Browse through your photos sometime and see if you find any which include a person you do not love. If you do find such a person included, ask yourself 'Why?' Pause a moment.
Say a brief prayer for that person's welbeing.
Jesus continues, the second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
I know some people who do not love themselves, sad but true. If you cannot love yourself then this commandment probably makes little sense to you. In fact this commandment might make you feel uncomfortable and angry. If you do not love yourself why would anyone else be worthy of your love?
Why would you want to love anyone else?
I believe we were put on this earth to love.
How you accomplish living this love is up to you.
As always you do have a choice. Choose to Love with your whole heart, your whole mind, your whole soul, and with all your strength.
God loved us first. He loves you!
I have had students who could recite back information but not understand the meaning of the words. Several birds can learn to speak very clearly what they hear. A parrot speaks without comprehension of the sounds it makes. Young children can use words heard from their parents without having a clue as to what they mean.
The scribes come to Jesus inquiring about the most important commandment. Jesus responds, "...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."
How can we make this kind of love more than just mere words? How do we love the Lord with heart, mind, soul, and strength? I think if we look at love as an action word and not an emotion; we will have something more tangible. Love is a decision you make each and every time you 'feel' love. Yes it is true there are certain chemicals released into the brain when two people are 'in love', but those chemicals eventually dissipate throughout your body.
Love is not dependent on the words you choose to say. Love has more to do with your actions. Are you living your life in a loving manner? Do you consistently treat others the way you hope to be treated? God has placed into each heart the desire and capacity to love him.
When I witness the loving interaction between a mother and her baby I am reminded of the way God wants us to love him. But more than that it is the model for how God wants us to love others and how we are to ultimately love ourself.
If we want to grow in fulfilling this commandment of love we should consider how we choose to love those around us. It is easy to love those we feel in harmony with, that is not the issue here. It is those 'other' people that we do not 'feel' like loving that Jesus is directing us to love. This is where strength from God is a necessity. It is so much easier to dismiss those we would rather not love; those who do not fit into our picture of who we are willing to love.
We rarely have our picture taken with those we do not already love. Browse through your photos sometime and see if you find any which include a person you do not love. If you do find such a person included, ask yourself 'Why?' Pause a moment.
Say a brief prayer for that person's welbeing.
Jesus continues, the second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
I know some people who do not love themselves, sad but true. If you cannot love yourself then this commandment probably makes little sense to you. In fact this commandment might make you feel uncomfortable and angry. If you do not love yourself why would anyone else be worthy of your love?
Why would you want to love anyone else?
I believe we were put on this earth to love.
How you accomplish living this love is up to you.
As always you do have a choice. Choose to Love with your whole heart, your whole mind, your whole soul, and with all your strength.
God loved us first. He loves you!
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