Question of the Greatest Commandment, Part 2

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Title: Question of the Greatest Commandment, Part 2
Keywords: “commandment” “heart” “love” “mind” “soul” “strength”
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Passage: Mark 12:28-34*

28. And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?"

29. Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;

30. AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'

31. "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

32. And the scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher, You have truly stated that HE IS ONE; AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM;

33. AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34. And when Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

Question

Recall a time in your life when you really felt love for God. If the passion has weakened, what happened?

 

Practical help

This is the second in a three-part study on the greatest commandment and its follow-on companion. Today let’s pause and think about how we are to love God. The answer is found in verse 30.

Love God with all of your heart. No divided affection allowed. Attempt to love God and enjoy pornography and you will find one will lack passion. You will either throw out the porn-sites, magazines, videos, or whatever else you might be secretly holding on to, or you will throw out God.

Love God with all your soul. Your soul is your life. Is your life ordered in a way that God feels honored? Or are you attempting to live your life your way and entice God to just go along for the ride — sort of as a good luck charm, or so others will think you are spiritual?

Love God with all your mind. Going to church once a week or reading the Bible occasionally is not using your mind in an intense pursuit of God. If you find yourself more interested in porn than God, perhaps you are not intellectually engaged with knowing God at a deeper level.

Love God with all your strength. Pornography dissipates vital sexual energy and leaves the individual in a wasted state. God is calling you to channel your passions first through him and then he promises to give you the desires of you heart (Psalm 37:4)

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."