Discipleship Point
Mark 12:29-31
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 neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Pondering Point
As followers, or disciples of Jesus, we are to do what Jesus did: Live as Jesus lived, love as Jesus loved. It is fair to say that Jesus loved God with all His heart, with all His soul, with all of His mind, and with all of His strength. It’s also fair to say, in the understatement of the day, that Jesus loved His neighbor as Himself.
For our part, we are followers like apprentices, learning the trade and craft of our Master. We may never get to the level of loving that Jesus implemented, but we can have the same Spirit (the Holy Spirit) by which Jesus loved. And we have the same Father who loves us as He does His beloved Jesus. This is all that we need.
Discipleship Prayer
Discipleship Prayer: Father God, it is great to know that I am beloved. Just as I want to be loved, remind me that all people, all of those You have created, want to be loved. As Your vessel, I want to share love. I want to love as Jesus loved, and live as Jesus lived – all in. May I do this to Your glory, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
The Shema
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 119:41-48 6th letter: Waw (ו)
- May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
your salvation, according to your promise; - then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
for I trust in your word. - Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
for I have put my hope in your laws. - I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever. - I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts. - I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame, - for I delight in your commands
because I love them. - I reach out for your commands, which I love,
that I may meditate on your decrees.
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
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.
The Promise
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.
Pondering Point
Decide on a way to reach out to God today.