Love is our Calling

Holy Week continues….

       On Tuesday scholars think Jesus was at the temple and was questioned about His authority Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33 and Luke 20:9-21:4.   He was also teaching important doctrines in the temple in Matthew 21:28-23:39, Mark 12: 1-44 and Luke 20:9-21:4.  Then Jesus was anointed and His betrayal was unveiled  in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and Luke 22:3-6.  This last event took place in Bethany so it would seem that Jesus was staying in Bethany and went into Jerusalem each day.

Matthew 22: 34-40  Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.  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.'”  (NIV)

       Today’s portion from Matthew is just a small bit of the wonderful teaching Jesus did on Tuesday.  I chose it because it reminds me where my focus and prioity needs to be in life.  God wants me to love Him with my very being and essence.  He is to have my number one love and devotion.  Then with loving Him in the right place I can reach out to love everyone around me.  I like to think of my neighbor as someone I like but often that is not the  case.  I am called to love, with godly love, those around me both near and far.  I am to win them to Christ with my love.  Jesus also stated this in John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another, As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

      How are you doing in loving your neighbor?  Sometimes it can be really hard, but knowing that it is God’s will for us is to love others sacrificially gives us the courage and strength to strive to do as Jesus would through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Step out today in love, make it a conscious effort and see the fruit Jesus will  bring.

Looking to love,

Linda

These massive walls of Jeruselum were just outside the temple area where you could enter the city.

These steps where I am sitting are a likely place that Jesus entered and taught.