City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’” 

Mark 12:29:31 (NIV)

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” 

John 15:12 (NIV)

Reflection

What we know now as Holy Week, a few days before Passover in Jesus’ time, was His final opportunity with a listening crowd, anything He wanted them to hear He had to say it right then and there. One of the religious authorities unwittingly gave Jesus an opportunity to do so. When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, I’m sure He stayed silent for a few minutes, not because He was trying to think of an answer, but so the crowd would ponder what He would say.

The rebellious teenager would worry Jesus would say the fifth one. The hustler’s heartbeat would quicken at the idea of the fourth. Someone who has been raised worshipping idols and was curious about who Jesus is would wonder if it was the first, and if there was any hope for them. Jesus summed it up into two commandments: Love God with all your being, and love others as you love yourself. That’s it. So simple, yet so hard. Jesus even emphasized this to his own disciples, despite their personality clashes and the occasional head-butting, to set the example of love. 

Application

Love God, and love others. So much easier said than done. Rebellion, busyness, or modern idols can get in the way of a relationship with God. I don’t know about you, but it’s hard enough for me to love the people I like, and to love my enemies (Matthew 5:44) definitely requires the Holy Spirit. Why go through all the trouble of love? Because God first loved us, and was willing to give up His Son so He wouldn’t have to give us up. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for what You did on the cross. Help me to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love others as You have loved me. In Your Name I pray, amen.