Today’s Reading:
Mark 12:28-34 (Deut. 6:5)
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
(Deut. 6:5) NIV
In view of the multiple worships of Baals and other gods, it was imperative to give a divine insight into whom the God of Israel is. The Lord our God is one! He alone is worthy of worship and the people's love for the Lord and their neighbours is to be on the basis of the love the Lord has towards them, and of his identification with them (v.4; 1Jn. 4:19-21). This love is to be in totality, involving their whole being (4:29; Jos. 22:5). The words - heart, ... soul, and strength stand for the intellect, the will, the emotions, the spiritual and physical being - that is, all that a person is and can be or do for God. This commandment is the core of God's covenant with Israel (v.5; Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). They are to keep the commandment in their heart and impress it upon their children, day and night (Jer.31-33).
The teacher of the law who asked to know the most important of all of God's law was positively inclined to Jesus’ response and praised him (vv.28, 32-33). Jesus described the teacher as having understanding and that he is nearer to the kingdom of God (v. 34). Jesus shows that the love for neighbour is a natural and logical outgrowth of love for God (v.31). According to the authors of a General Theory of Love, "where intellect and emotions clash, the heart often has the greater wisdom." Before, it was believed that the mind should rule the heart; but science now proved the opposite to be true that: Who we are and who we become partly depends on whom we love. But the most important commandment God gave to his people has given the heart a most prominent place. "To love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul and with all our strength (Deut. 6:5). Also, the gospels of Mark and Luke taught all along what scientists are now just discovering (Mk.12:30; Lk. 10:27).
In essence, in our Christian journey, when we obey this great commandment; and are able to make God the object of our love, we shall have a purpose that goes beyond anything we can imagine or that our strength can achieve. When our desire, our longing for God dominates our heart, then our minds will stay focused on ways to serve God and then our actions will further the kingdom of God here on earth and also in heaven.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
My Father, I desire, I long to make you the supreme desire of my heart; teach and guide me how to love and obey you always, in Jesus name.
Father, every wicked power assigned to lead me to hellfire, die, in Jesus name.
Every strange and evil altar raised against my life and destiny, be consumed by the fire of the Holy Ghost, in Jesus name.
Father uproot everything you have not planted in your church and revive your Pentecostal fire and power as of old, in Jesus name.
Father, thank you for sustaining Nigeria with your power and fire. Give our leaders fresh knowledge, understanding, direction and inspiration to move the nation to the next level. Let there be peace and harmony of purpose, in Jesus name. Amen.
Comments