L.O.V.E.

ALL – Psalm 48:1-14
ALL – Proverbs 10:26
OT – Numbers 4:1-5:31
NT – Mark 12:18-37

It’s amazing how quickly we forget what we’re up to. Not just in the little things of life, but the big things. Our expectations and perspectives are too quickly warped.

For instance, in marriage. We get married, usually, very much aware that our spouse wants us to be happy and that we want our spouse to be happy. But then, what happens? Well, unfortunately, no one pays us to make our spouse happy (wouldn’t that be an awesome job!). So we go off to work. At first, our intention at work is still largely to make our spouse happy; we’re there, after all, so that we can afford a place to stay, food to eat, clothes to wear, and a variety of fun things to do together. But then, it’s easy for work to become more and more important in our lives, and soon it’s our employers we are trying to please rather than our spouses. Work life goes great. Home life? Not so much.

It’s like that with God sometimes, too. We know that our relationship with Him is first. And we want to respond appropriately, lovingly, wholeheartedly. And then we begin to do things out of love for Him. And then we begin to do the same things to prove how much we love Him. And soon we’re doing those things to prove how much God ought to love us—and not just God, but everyone else, too. We begin to get caught up in the work we first did because of God’s love for us, and that same work becomes a matter of our love for us—our self-justifications, our basis for boasting, our reputations, our honor. No longer Christ’s. No longer Christ’s.

It’s amazing how quickly we forget what we’re up to. We forget what drives us. We forget who gives us strength. We begin to take control. We begin to set up our own goals, our own masterplans, our own motivations. And rather than living a life powered by love of and for God, we do the same things in a life powered by love of and for ourselves.

Jesus always knew what He was up to, and what we all should be up to:

One of the teachers of religion who was standing there listening to the discussion realized that Jesus had answered well. So he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Jesus replied, “The one that says, ‘Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.’ The second is, ‘You must love others as much as yourself.’ No other commandments are greater than these.” – Mark 12:28-31, The Living Bible

Have you forgotten what you’re up to? How can we help to turn one another back to a wholehearted love for God and for those He’s put into our lives?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

I’ll Pray Later

ALL – Psalm 35:17-28
ALL – Proverbs 9:13-18
OT – Leviticus 1:1-3:17
NT – Mark 1:29-2:12

Since being appointed as pastor, I have been made more aware than ever before that any spiritual accomplishment is possible only by God’s grace. Even when everything is going well, I am completely overwhelmed and need God’s help and guidance and strength daily.

And yet, just like many others, I sometimes struggle to “find time” for prayer. I’m more aware of my need for time to give my Father my burdens than ever, and yet distractions and pressing deadlines still sometimes manage to convince me to “pray later.”

Jesus did not lack for pressures. And yet Jesus spent time with His Father. After a day full of ministry, healing the sick and casting out demons:

The next morning he was up long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. – Mark 1:35, The Living Bible

I’m not saying that everyone needs to get up long before daybreak. But seriously, we need time to pray to our God. Find some time in each day. Cherish it. And pour your heart out to God.

What do you need to put in God’s hands today?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

First Things

ALL – Psalm 27:7-14
ALL – Proverbs 6:27-35
OT – Exodus 17:8-19:15
NT – Matthew 22:34-23:12

What is the first principle by which you live your life? No fear? Just do it? Carpe Diem? Many of us try to find a theme for our lives, a goal towards which we drive ourselves, by which we motivate ourselves, according to which we make our decisions and guide our actions. This We’ll Defend. Paratus et Potens. Above All. Semper Fideles. First Things are cohesive, clarifying, purposeful, powerful.

What is your all-important first principle, the First Thing in your life?

If you’re a Christian, the answer should be simple: Love God.

Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’ ” – Matthew 22:37-39

So, brothers and sisters, how are we doing? Can we calibrate ourselves, by God’s grace, to the first principle Jesus taught us—and to the second, too?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.