Matthew 22:34-40 (The Message) –
When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees,
they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke
for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which
command in God’s Law is the most important?”
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your
passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on
any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as
you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and
the Prophets hangs from them.”
You all know that this is my “big deal” passage. Love God, Love People. It really is that
simple (not easy). All the 10
commandments are about one or the other.
For some reason, I don’t remember reading the Message version
before. I like the way he translates,
“heart, soul, and mind” as “passion, prayer, and intelligence.” It makes it more accessible to me. It makes
it seem more understandable to me what I’m supposed to do. Heart, soul, and mind are a little
abstract. Passion, prayer, and
intelligence are concrete.
I am woefully unbalanced on these three. For those that know me well, I spend a lot of
time “in my head.” I really like Paul
Tillich’s definition of theology, “loving God with the mind.” It’s the easiest of the three for me. Acting on what I know is much harder for
me. Action is messy. It often doesn’t go
how it did in my head. That is why I
need to engage my head, heart, and action.
In the interplay amongst all three, the truthful reality of loving God
and people begins to emerge.
Question: What is your struggle with loving God and people
with your passion, prayer and intelligence?
Prayer: God, we want
to love you heart, soul, and mind, but we struggle. Help us see our path
forward into deeper love with you and each other.
Prayer Focus: Pray
for people who are paralyzed by fear today
Song: One of my
favorite youth group songs growing up.
Jars of Clay - They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love
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