In Matthew 22:35-40, we read: “Then one of them, a lawyer asked Him a question, testing Him and saying, ’Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
“You don’t love your brother?” The mother questioned the four-year old. “Why not?”
“’Cause he won’t play with me,” she answered emphatically.
“What do your think ‘love’ is?”
“Umm, Bobby plays with me. He lets me play with his toys. And I get to have his ice cream,” she added quickly.
Mother thought for a minute, trying to hide her smile. “Would you give your ice cream to Bobby?” Sarah shook her head. “Would you let him have your favorite doll or play with your toy?” She shook her head again.
“Let me get this straight. You want him to share with you but you don’t want to share with him.” Sarah nodded.
So many times in life, I find myself in the place of the four-year old. I expect the list of things I think I deserve from the Lord. But God in His wisdom sees right through me...just as Mother saw through the four-year old. He knows my needs and knows what will benefit me most.
I choose to love the Lord Jesus Christ, not because of how I feel or what He can do for me but because He is God and He loves me with an everlasting love and He has promised never to leave nor forsake me.
Kingdom Thinking. First comes my love for the Lord Jesus by choice. As I give my heart, mind and soul to Him, He loves my neighbor through me. He does this perfectly. He will do the same for you. Won’t you choose Him?
“You don’t love your brother?” The mother questioned the four-year old. “Why not?”
“’Cause he won’t play with me,” she answered emphatically.
“What do your think ‘love’ is?”
“Umm, Bobby plays with me. He lets me play with his toys. And I get to have his ice cream,” she added quickly.
Mother thought for a minute, trying to hide her smile. “Would you give your ice cream to Bobby?” Sarah shook her head. “Would you let him have your favorite doll or play with your toy?” She shook her head again.
“Let me get this straight. You want him to share with you but you don’t want to share with him.” Sarah nodded.
So many times in life, I find myself in the place of the four-year old. I expect the list of things I think I deserve from the Lord. But God in His wisdom sees right through me...just as Mother saw through the four-year old. He knows my needs and knows what will benefit me most.I choose to love the Lord Jesus Christ, not because of how I feel or what He can do for me but because He is God and He loves me with an everlasting love and He has promised never to leave nor forsake me.
Kingdom Thinking. First comes my love for the Lord Jesus by choice. As I give my heart, mind and soul to Him, He loves my neighbor through me. He does this perfectly. He will do the same for you. Won’t you choose Him?