Wednesday - "100% Love"

The Most Important Commandment
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

This second of the two most important commandments seems pretty simple to do... That is until we discover that our neighbor is anybody who isn't us...

Do you mean our nasty boss? Yep.

Do you mean my stepmom who acts like she doesn't like me? Uh-huh.

Do you mean the guy who nearly ran me off the road? Yessir.

The rapist...the abuser...the thief? Yes, yes, and yes.

Anybody?

No. Everybody.

That's a pretty tall order from God. Yesterday we talked about 100% selling out to God...giving Him our full devotion in every area of our lives. Today we put that in the context of who we are supposed to love. Notice what the verse says...it doesn't say tolerate, put up with, or handle...it says love.

How do we do that?

Love people the way Jesus loves us. We are broken and bruised sinners...people that need grace each and every day of our lives. God is calling us to extend that same grace and love to others...and let justice come from Him alone. Loving others is a choice - not something that they deserve or even ask for in most cases. I challenge you this morning to choose someone who came to mind when you were reading this...pray for them... and show them the love of Christ today.

Just imagine if the whole world could live like that... do you think that's what God has in mind?

Pastor Brian