I would imagine many of us have lived a life filled with lessons, whether learned from others or through our experiences. But, our memories are fickle—I can’t tell you what my mom taught me when I was seven years old or the major lesson I learned after getting grounded when I was twelve.
Perhaps it’s not the worst thing that I can’t recall those specific details. Perhaps, when put together, our life lessons create grounded values for us that we would carry the rest of our days.
The Old Testament is much longer and has extensive histories and lists of laws compared to the New Testament. In Matthew 22:27, Jesus quotes the book of Deuteronomy, a book where we continuously see God telling Israel to be very careful to not forget everything God has taught them. Yet, in Matthew 22, an “expert in the law”—someone who knew the Old Testament well—asks Jesus: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” (v.36).
Now, supposedly these guys knew the Old Testament scriptures, particularly the law, word for word. Some have interpreted this as the ‘expert in the law’ testing Jesus. Regardless of what He’s trying to do, Jesus communicates that every lesson they’ve ever been taught all comes together in one message: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (v.37).
The greatest commandment Jesus communicated in Matthew 22 remains true for the Christian today too. This is a message we are to receive, respond to, and live by, but it is also the message we get to carry in everything we do, say, and think.
The message of loving God is a culmination of the teachings God has been giving since the beginning. To live according to this teaching, we get to choose things like memorizing Scripture to internalize God’s truth in our hearts rather than just knowing it, or to know God through our evangelism, finances, parenting, communication, obedience, and service. How we live is how we will abide by Jesus’s greatest commandment. Even on days when we forget, it’s the message that will keep us grounded for the rest of our days.
Thank you Jesus for your commandments that are spelled out for us. It’s so simple but we do forget in our humanity every day. Yet every day, you still love us and choose us!! Praise God the Father!!❣️❣️❣️
**please excuse my many typos and grammar errors today. Was in a rush. Love you shes.
PRAYERS..
@INDIANA ELAINE: recovery for Steve’s surgery and clearing of drugs, smoking remnants by God’s grace.
@ERB: 100% healing over your seizures, and healing for your mom’s broken wrist. So sorry.❤️
@SHANNON STROSCHEIN: no sin is greater than the Cross dear Shannon. The fact that you are here, and to have regrets toward the certain sin, already means you are repenting. This is the WAY back, so good new!! you’re already back dear friend. Prodigal child, you’re back, received with open arms (Luke 15:20)! The Lord rejoices over you, so does Heaven over one lost sheep that is you, and we too rejoice over you across the pond. Come to stay with us please, daily will you? come and read and reflect together. We don’t judge, simply just one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread. Hugs and love to you.❤️
@MOLLY R, @RHONDA J: prayers for grace over marriage rough patches, I am so sorry for your heartaches, prayers for strength and self control over words, actions to be seasoned with grace and gentleness, God’s hands to lead and weave the 3-strand cord marriage that is not easily broken. A reliable vehicle provision for MOLLY.
@ASHLEIGH PRUETT: deliverance over depression and the spirit of heaviness. May God cast out this cloud over you, and replace with GREAT joy, lightness, calming peace and relief.
@MARI V: your daughter’s friend H to be cared for properly, provided for with love and safety. May God shift the environment and bring the needed support and appropriate changes.
@FOSTER MAMA: may God have mercy and sustain them both in this time, deliverance from evil thoughts and choices. Scary!
@CAROLINE BRIDGES: you are SO worthy dear CAROLINE. He came to die for sinners to make us righteous daughters through faith in Lord Jesus, and then the daily transformation through the Holy Spirit, the yielding of our heart, and the process of renewing of mindset and thoughts through the Word/SRT/ communities daily, through discussion, etc. Just keep swimming sister. Don’t overthink. Just keep swimming. ❤️
@TAYLOR: seek first His kingdom …and all else: relationships, friends, bf/husband..will be added to you. This is truth, and PROVEN.❤️ This is the way.
Be blessed dear sisters. May the grace and goodness of God be with you to guide, to lead, to redeem and to cheer. He is worthy of our praises and worship, in good times and bad, He is still God on the throne, orchestrating every smallest details for our good. Blessings to you dear sweet she’s. Keep your hope up and keep marching forth.❤️
Happy monday she’s. Praying you all will have a great start to your week.
Things that stood out to me:
1. Render to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s, to God what is God. Everything indeed belongs to God, but something belongs to authority of men, even bad authority (in this case and many other cases). God still commands us to render respect, tax (deferral and provincial), honor to submit and pray for authority even if they are evil. (“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” Jeremiah 29:7) (“…..fear God, honor the emperor” 1 Peter 2:17).
2. The two greatest commandments and one hidden one
Love God,
Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
(** hidden one: love yourself with the love of Christ).
3. Diligently teach to our children God’s commandments, talk and discuss about them at the dining table, while having snacks and meals, while doing school homework, when we walk to the playground, on car ride doing school or errands, before bedtime, when waking up getting ready for the day (my emphasis) (Deuteronomy 6:7)
INDIANA ELAINE – woo-hoo for God’s mercy. Dancing for joy in Steve’s successful surgery.
I have family here this week so just wanted to pop in and thank you for your prayers for Steven and give you an update. He was on a respirator for 2 days because they were having trouble waking him from surgery. CO2 levels were high. He was a smoker and used drugs until he found his way back to Jesus. He is out of critical care and in a regular room. He hopes to go home in a couple of days. Thank you, Jesus.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.
*Yes Lord!!! May it all be so!!! Let me carry You with me wherever I go, may I be a witness, a vessel for You, let my words, thoughts, heart and actions proclaim You to whoever will listen and see!! Amen.
Mathew 22:14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.
*Lord, may I be prepared and ready, dressed only for You!! Amen
@Theresa – let me not to forget to praise the Living God for answer to prayer in not only sparing Sidney’s life but also beginning the healing process, in such a way that she no longer needs a heart transplant! Only God!!! Thank You Almighty God, all praise & glory to you Father!