First Steps - Day 29

Today’s Bible Reading

Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 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: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. 33 To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask Him any more questions.

Applying God’s Word in My Life:

1. What are the two most important commandments? (vv.29-31). Why are they the most important commandments?

2. On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest), rate each of these three loves: God, others and yourself. Explain your rating.

3. What does it mean practically for you to love God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”? (vv.30,33). What can you do to show your love for God?

Today’s Key Verse: Mark

12:30

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Love God? Do You

My6 year old neighbour Michael and I were talking in my front garden when two other children stopped nearby. After I asked them their names, Michael’s first question to them was: “Do you love God?” John, a 5 year old boy, quickly responded, “No!” Michael gave him a look of disapproval and concern. When 4 year old Alice noticed he wasn’t pleased with that answer, she said, “Yes!”

Michael’s ‘strategy’ for sharing our need for God may not be the most effective, but he does have an important question for the people he meets (and I’ve heard him ask it of several others as well).

Jesus was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” (Mark 12:28). He answered, “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” (vv.29-30).

Jesus was referring to Old Testament times, when God had told the Israelites to place Him as the one and only God in their lives and nation. The pagan nations around them had many gods they loved and worshipped, but God’s people were to be different.

Loving God is to be our top priority too. So, the important question for each of us is, “Do I love God?” —Anne Cetas

FOR FURTHER THOUGHT

Have you trusted in Jesus as your Saviour?

What evidence is there in your life that you love God?

How are you showing God’s love to others?

If you truly love the Lord, you’ll want others to love Him too.