If you could just understand what the two greatest commandments are and obey them, then God would be well with you in this life and the next. So what are these two commandments, you might ask? Well, we will learn about them today by the mouth of Jesus, our Lord, and God. It is recorded, “and one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31) So, first of all, we learn that the Lord our God is one! There are no other gods before Him. Therefore, saying we will become a god one day or believing in multiple gods, goes against this commandment. Along with this first commandment reads that we are to love our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. So what does this mean? It means to not just say we believe in God, but to honor Him with our lips and our deeds. We don’t walk in the ways of the world but walk in His statutes, which are good works.
The second commandment teaches us that loving our neighbor is as important as loving God. For how can we love God if we continue in our own selfish ambitions? If other’s needs are not met, and we had the opportunity to be there for them, then we have also failed god at these times in our lives. So we ought to confess our faults before God and tell Him sorry. Only He can forgive You, and again lead you to more people to help. We may have missed our opportunity to help, serve, pray, and witness to, but he will give us more opportunities to love our neighbors if we just let Him. And giving in to what the Holy Spirit desires in our lives will lead us to do good things for others, which is also loving God. One day God will say to those people of faith, “come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” (Matthew 25:34-36) “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40) Therefore, you will be blessed to enter the kingdom of God come death, if you did as Jesus said and loved God with everything you are, along with loving your neighbor as yourself.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, help us all to become selfless. We ask that You take every ounce of selfishness in our lives and rip it all out. We no longer wish to fulfill our own selfish desires while other people’s needs are not being met. Give us eyes to see those who are less fortunate, that we may lend a helping hand. Help us see their needs and do all we can to supply them. If it means giving them money, clothing, or food, I am willing. What I gain from my job is all Yours, so do with it as You please, God. And if it is isn’t money, but a person to lend an ear to, I will give it. If it is a person who will pray with and for them, I will do so. Many people are left in this darkened world and have no idea of the path they are on. Therefore, give me words of wisdom, that I may reach them with the truth of the gospel. For this, I need Your guidance and direction. Even the boldness that comes from heaven is what will help me in these efforts. Be with me, God. I cannot do anything good for Your kingdom on my own will, but only if You are ever with me. Surely, if You are doing a work in me, I can do all things. Nothing You desire will ever be left unaccomplished if I would just continue to look to You in faith, listen to You, and follow Your wise counsel. I have seen the fruits of Your doings in my life already and believe there is still much more left to do in Your kingdom. I pray that many more people are loved on, as well as brought to You in faith. May more people see the love in me as I care for their different needs. I love and honor You, Lord, with all my heart, mind, strength, and soul. I give You praise and glory, this day and forever. Amen.
