Matthew
Kingdom Foundation LOVE
Being a better lover fulfills needs
No wonder Jesus says to love with “All your Heart, Soul and Mind”
The Kingdom Principle is not part time love, but full-time love
Love with “ALL”
Jesus answers the question
Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Matthew 22:30
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." Matthew 22:37-40
The First and Second Commandment is something we all can get better at
Kingdom Foundation LOVE
When we were kids,
we had a saying “New Rule”.
When we’re playing games, someone would say,
“New Rule”…
Meaning the way we played the game before
had a new standard.
There were always new rules around the house…
Rules about food, the black and white TV, bed time.
Rules to tell us when, how, and where to do life.
Where the Sadducees did not know the Scriptures…
The Pharisees were “Experts in the Law”.
I once hired as attorney to help me as a landlord
rewrite a Land Contract.
This attorney told me a story of how
he got a tenant to stay in a house
for a year without paying rent.
This attorney used the law.
It did not matter to him if he used the law
to take advantage of a tenant or a landlord…
Winning was his goal.
By the way…
He charged me $200 an hour to tell me the story.
We have a love, hate relationship with laws.
We love them when they help us
and hate them when they hinder us.
If there was ever a law or laws
that was good…
It would have to be the Law
or Ten Commandments God gave to Moses.
The first Four Commandments focused
on our relationship with God.
The next six,
focus on our relationship with one another.
When the Pharisees asked Jesus,
Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?
Jesus answered…
"'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."
I think the Pharisees knew Jesus gave the right answer.
You and I also need to remember…
The foundation to the Kingdom is LOVE.
Because I am selfish,…
I sometimes need a command or law
to help me love God and others better.
Sandy and I have been married for 51 years.
I have always loved Sandy,
but I became a better lover over time.
The laws of do not commit adultery,
do not commit murder,
I am the head of my wife
and to give my life for her
are good…
But only when the heart and mind
are filled with love
will we be able to become a better lover.
Sandy loves to hear me share with her and others
the things I admire in her.
Sandy gets my attention
as I think of her needs and desires, as well as,
the bonuses of unexpected kindness.
Over time I have learned how to express words and actions
that go far beyond a command or law.
Filling my mind and heart with
thoughts and feelings for God and others
has helped me become a better lover.
Being a better lover fulfills needs.
No wonder Jesus says to love with…
“All your Heart, Soul and Mind”
The Kingdom Principle is not part time love,
but full-time love…
Love with “ALL”
Philippians 2:1-4…
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love,
being one in spirit and purpose.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
The first and second commandment is
something we all can get better at.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 22:34-40
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 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."
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