Love Again

N.T.#416 "Love Again"

Nov. 4, 2024

Mark 12-Part 6

LET IT GLOW 

How are others treating you? How are you treating them? Is it with selfless love?

The last of the five groups which tried to undermine Jesus' being the Messiah of Israel were the scribes. The scribes were respected and feard as Israel's experts on the Law. They were devoted to copying the Scriptures by hand with meticulous care. Spending housrs reading and writing the Word of God should have given them sufficient time to memorize passages and think about them. Although the scribes were theologians, they twisted the sacred texts to suit their purposes like the Sadducees and Herodians. (Swindoll)

One of the scribes asked Jesus what was the greatest of the commandments, to which He answered to love God and neighbors. To be clearer, Jesus said to love the Lor thy God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The scribe said to love God with all our heart, understanding, soul, and strength, plus our neighbor. He added: is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. (verse 33b)

Love is the key to our living and pleasing God. That is my conclusion.

 Mere religious observance is worthless. Conforming to external religious regulations and practices-without love-will not get you close to God. We are to love God with the totality of our being. It is one thing to claim we love God, but to show it with what we think, say, and do is proof. Jesus connects the vertical love of God with the horizontal love of others. To love others is to decide to compassionately and righteously seek their well-being. (Evans)

LET IT GROW 

Love is the leading affection of the soul; the love of God is the leading grace in the renewed soul. Loving God with all our heart dethrones all those things that are rivals with Him. Do we set our affections on God? Do we delight in Him? Is He in sole possession of us? (Matthew Henry)

Jesus told us that there is no greater commandment than these two. (verse 31b) Are we working on this? To love God and our neighbor is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices, according to that scribe. (verse 32b) Was it the Prophet Samuel that said the same thing-obedience is better than sacrifice?

Genuine love for God and people is our duty as believers. Obeying God's Word is what He wants of us. How can I help you? That should be our theme. Whether we are cleaning dirty dishes, changing dirty diapers, or scrubbing filthy commodes, we are to do it because we love and honor God.

Maybe it is turning the other cheek and forgiving that is showing we love God and others. Do it millions of times. Don't waste years of being mad at someone. If we are walking by faith, then we are to be walking in love.

LET IT GO 

Help us to love again, sweet Jesus.

To forgive those who hurt us. Let go of those hurts.

Love again today.