34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Have you ever wondered, like me, what the Father really desires from us? Here we have His concise answer – love God, love others. There you have it. This sounds simple enough until we start fleshing it out – where the rubber meets the road so to speak. First of all, to love the Creator or the created rightly - as God would have us love - is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling within us. It is perhaps easier for us to imagine ourselves loving God rightly and wholeheartedly – perhaps (and only perhaps) – but man? Seriously...the mean ones - the dirty ones – the obnoxious ones – those who make fun of us or spit in our faces or nail us to a tree – it is those we are supposed to love – readily, entirely, wholeheartedly? Are you kidding me? Supernatural power is a necessity to be sure!
In our verses for today, the expert in the law who posed the question to the Master was in agreement with His answer. Mark records that Jesus stated this Pharisees was not far from the kingdom of God:
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. Mark 12:32-34 (NIV)
6 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)
“Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved.” Thomas Merton
Jesus came to fulfill - and did fulfill - all the righteous requirements of the old law. The law the Lord came to usher in and which continues to remain in effect is simply the law of love. All law is fulfilled in this one word – love. All obedience is to begin with affection and nothing is done properly that is not begun there first. Love is to be the motivating factor of our actions. Paul tells is in Romans:
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10 (NIV)
God wants us to love as He loves – selflessly, freely, graciously, compassionately, kindly, gently, humbly and patiently. A tall order to be sure and one which definitely requires the work of the Spirit! Those controlled by the Holy Spirit are evidenced by their love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
“Spirit-filled souls are ablaze for God.” Samuel Chadwick
Love is not the paste gem variety of Hollywood nor is it fueled from the lust of the flesh or the greed of the eye. The Bible teaches of the love God requires in I Corinthians. Paul gives us fourteen predications defining the way of love ending with eternal aspect of it as love never fails:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. 1 Cor 13:4-8 (NIV)
The motivation behind our actions is paramount. For instance, we can be obedient to God’s Word - motivated by love - and it is a sweet smelling sacrifice to the Father as well as an experience of a bit of heaven on earth for us. On the other hand, we can dutifully and laboriously fulfill our call to obedience - as the religious hypocrites of Jesus’ day - and be nauseating in His sight. The motive makes the difference. Remember, we love Him because He first loved us. Biblical love – Jesus - will always woo His suitor.
“God loves you as though you are the only person in the world, and He loves everyone the way He loves you.” Augustine
“The way to disengage the heart from the love of one object is to fasten it in positive love to another. It is not by exposing the worthlessness of the former, but by addressing the worth and excellence of the latter that all old things are to be done away and all things are to become new. The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one. Thomas Chalmers
“To love God, to serve Him because we love Him, is...our highest happiness...Love makes all labor light. We serve with enthusiasm where we love with sincerity.” Hannah More
“For the love of God is broader than the measures of man’s mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.” Frederick William Faber