In the middle of Jesus’ ministry, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the chief priests start to openly confront Jesus to try to expose Him as a false teacher and blasphemer. It was backfiring on them because people were amazed at His teaching. The power of God was flowing through Him and no one could stop it. He is looking like a prophet in the eyes of the crowds gathering around. The Pharisees try to stump Him on paying taxes or not. Jesus amazed the people at His response. The Sadducees get in the ring and pull out the marriage of several brothers to one wife and whose wife will she be at the resurrection. Jesus flies through this as well and the crowds go from amazed to astonished at His teaching. This just means that they were impressed at what He said and how He handled Himself. Why wouldn’t they be, He was God.
Now comes the Pharisees again. An expert in the law is intent on stumping Jesus in front of everyone. 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 Again Jesus drops the microphone and moves on. He was the Word that became flesh. They were never going to be able to trap Him. As a matter of fact, they helped Him reveal who He was. His light was exposing the darkness in which they were living. Have you ever loved anything with all that you are? Have you ever risked giving the totality of your being, entrusting it to the care of another? In the first part of the greatest commandment, have you ever considered that it’s not God who needs all of us? It is we who need to give all of ourselves to God. For those of us who are followers of Christ, we know that we need all of God, but do we know as clearly that our wholeness is dependent on our giving all of ourselves? I don’t know if I fully grasp what it means to give all of myself in every dimension as Jesus describes. I am learning and growing more everyday to understand it a little more than I did yesterday. Here is what I do know – I know what it is like to love healfheartedly or to be doubleminded. I am far more acquainted with holding back, playing things close to my chest, and keeping my inner most vulnerable part guarded. Love always requires trust, and trust always requires risk. Yet God is inviting us to give all of ourselves, even down to the core. Did you know that God can be trusted with all of who you are? He knows we will never fully experience the love He intends to give us until we give all of ourselves away. Even those who have been hurt and betrayed in the past, God wants all of us. He will never betray us. Paul discovered in his own life experience that if you take the risk and give your whole self to God, you will never be put to shame. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 10:11 May you trust God with your all today. Let God comfort you at your deepest need. It is much better to live vulnerable before a loving God and trust that He will carry you through than it is to protect yourself and look like everything is in control. That choice leaves you all alone with no place to go. I’m looking forward to continuing our series, “Simply Grace” on Sunday. Invite someone to come with you and experience the grace of God. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
Rev. Mike McClurgSenior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene Archives
March 2020
Categories |