based on Not Made To Be Alone, an LGG Study / w4d1
Today’s Reading: Matthew 22:34-40 / SOAP 37-39
Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:37-39
Who and What’s Important?
Life isn’t about us. It is about God and loving others more than anything or anyone else. It is about obedience that flows from “TRUE” and unadulterated love for God and others. Jesus makes it crystal clear what priorities we are to place on self in His response to a question about which commandment was the greatest. Jesus exemplified this love for the Father in His ‘garden prayer to the Father’ when He prayed, “Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done.” And of course there is no greater example of His love for others than His selfless LOVE made evident by Him laying down His life for us on a sinner’s cross of shame.
Loving God and loving others is of the greatest importance to God
The Standard
Note the emphasis on the importance of these two commandments as written in our passage today–
- One is the greatest
- the second is like it
- both involve love
- both involve/require dying to self – laying self down
- ie – loving like Jesus
- – but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father – John 14:31
- So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34
- ie – loving like Jesus
More …
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Me From the Inside Out 