Good Morning Friends,
“One of them, an expert in the law, tested him
with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’
Jesus replied: ‘‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” (Matthew 22:35-40)
Two biblical images come to mind when I
consider Jesus’ answer to the question the legal expert asked:
The father was longingly waiting for the return
of the prodigal. He deeply loved his lost son and hoped that his son would
return. What that father wants from his son is his son’s love! It is what every
parent wants most from their children. A parent hopes for obedience, yes, but
not out of a grudging heart. A parent longs for the child to return his love.
The groom came for his bride. Jesus’ day was a
day of arranged marriages and strange courtships. Yet, then, as now, the groom
longed to woo his bride and see her respond with love. The groom wasn’t looking
for grudging compliance. He was looking for a heart of love from his bride.
Jesus chose those who images to describe God’s
relationship to His people. He is Father to us, and we are His children. He is
the Groom and we are His bride. He loves us with a depth we cannot even imagine
and He longs for us to respond to His love by loving Him. It is not grudging
obedience that God longs to see in our lives. What He desires most is for our
hearts to respond to His love by loving Him back.
God loves you. Love Him back! And then learn to
love others, too, because God does!
His, by Grace, Steve
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