28 One of the teachers of
the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them
a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the
most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with
all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more
important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:28-33
Do you know how important burnt offerings and sacrifices were important to God? Let me show you.
35 “Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them. 36
Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify
the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. 37
For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the
altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy." Exodus 29:35-37.
This a very small part of a big step by step instructions on how to offer sacrifices, the length of time it takes, and the correct manner to do so. Seven Days is a very long time to perform daily sacrificial procedures. If you can not find any examples of people burning offerings and sacrifices, read the whole book of Exodus and Leviticus. Trust me, you will find stories.
Do you know how important it is to follow God's instructions of burnt offerings and sacrifices? Let me show you.
"Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and
added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD,
contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. " Leviticus 10:1-2. Aaron's sons DIED. Aaron, the one who was strong with the Lord, who was an anchor for Moses to do the Lord's work. In God's eyes, it does not matter who you belong to and how influential you are to people. You do not perform burnt offerings and sacrifices as God instructed, you will die.
Do you get the point? God gave us the greatest commandment to love Him and then love one another. If you do not love God and others, then you do not know God. How can you be with God in Heaven, if you do not know God?
In Brotherly Love,
PB
Condividere la storia di Jesus in Italia
Of course we need to love other people, dear brother, but other people are annoying. And disappointing. And frustrating. And refuse to listen to Godly counsel. So how are we supposed to love them? Those people who leave their wives with four small children. Or cheat the IRS. Or intentionally stir the pot, even within the church.
ReplyDeleteI'll tell you how. WE can't. Making up your mind to love people doesn't cut it. Only God's Spirit working in and through us can help us love the unlovable. And if we ask His help, if we ask to see people as He sees them, he will open our eyes and hearts. But doing it on our own? Not. Gonna. Happen.