34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
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"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
How important were the Commandments of God? Very important.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
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.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
(Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
The Commandments were the very essence of the Law, the very essence of life to these accusing Pharisees and Sadducees. But Satan had wormed his way into the Books of the Law and the hearts of its' defenders. The true essence of the Law had been forgotten; that God loved them more than anything and they (we) needed to love Him in the same manner.
God loves everyone more than we love anyone. He loves your spouse more than you do. He loves your parents more than you do. He loves your children more than you do. He loves your friends and neighbors more than you do.
The second greatest Commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. But first things first. You cannot even begin to love your neighbor, not with the love of God, until you experience the love of God. And oh, friend, how He loves you! And by experiencing His love you can then show His love. You cannot share that which you have not received; but once you have allowed His love to pour into you, it is unstoppable.
Remember, this love is not just emotion; this love is action. God's love was shown through Christ on the cross. How then, do you "love your neighbor"?
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Questions:
1. Why is loving God the first and most important commandment?
2. Does 'loving your neighbor' imply sacrifice?
2. Does 'loving your neighbor' imply sacrifice?
3. How do you show His love?
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May we give God all we have, and get back all He would give. Jim
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"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
Billy Sunday
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May we give God all we have, and get back all He would give. Jim
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"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
Billy Sunday
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