April 9, 2010--Our Command to Love

In Mark 12:28-31, Jesus clearly tells us our most important commands (listed below) and you can see that it all comes back to love:

The Greatest Commandment

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"


"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Now, I want to share with you something profound I learned today that I think might push this command in a little deeper for you.  In a book I am currently reading, it told me to read 1 Corinthians 13.  Then, it said to take verses 4-7 and replace the words "love" and "it" with your own name.  When I did this, it was PROFOUND!!!  God's command is for us to love, and THIS tells you exactly what "love" means!

4 Paddon is patient, Paddon is kind.  Paddon does not envy, Paddon does not boast, Paddon is not proud. 5 Paddon is not rude, Paddon is not self-seeking, Paddon is not easily angered, Paddon keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Paddon does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 Paddon always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Think about this passage and use it to guide your choices and interactions each day!

Love,
Jenn