Loving God & Others Governed By "No Other Equals"

How has the Gospel of grace made a difference in your life today or right now? (Yesterday's insight)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." (Deut. 6:4).

The Gospel of Mark is written to Gentiles. The above verse is included in Mark because most Gentiles would not be as familiar with the two Great Commandments and its' context. Matthew (Matt. 22:34-40) does not include Deuteronomy 6:4 in quoting the two Great Commandments because Matthew is written primarily to Jews who would be familiar with it (Deut. 6:4).

Mark 12:29-31 (ESV) Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall 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 second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

These verses, originally found in Deuteronomy, call me to make God my single focus above all. Verse 29, "the LORD is one" is a reminder of the first of the Ten Commandments, "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exo 20:3 NIV) The people surrounding Israel, other nations or tribes worshipped many gods. God's people are called to worship Him alone.

Without the supremacy of God and/or Christ at the center of the two Great Commandments, "loving God with all of my heart and loving my neighbors as myself", I become supreme in determining my allegiances at any particular moment - man or God (?). "The LORD is one" reminds me that to love God is supreme over loving others (I believe that we will never properly love others unless we are supremely loving God - Gen 22:1-19). Jesus emphasized total allegiance unto Himself and in light of the first of the Ten Commandments, to have no equals to God, Jesus declares His supreme deity with the following statement.

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; {38} and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Mat 10:37-38 NIV)

The Gospel News is that God calls me to love Him supremely above all persons and things and He alone stands ready to supremely satisfy me. The Good News is that God - Jesus Christ is Himself the Good News and He gives himself to me to be supremely satisfied forever (John 4:10-14).

Lord, I pray that you would help me to find supreme satisfaction in You above all things and persons. Help me to believe You for what You are - supremely satisfying. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Psalms 16:11 (ESV) You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.