Matthew 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Love God above all and love everyone else like He does!!!! He is good to those who choose Him and those who do not. He sends rain to the just and the unjust. Why? Because all of us were created in His image. We do not fight against man but against the principalities of evil. Carla
Matthew 22:37-40
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (NKJV)
To answer the lawyer’s question, Jesus quoted from the great Jewish confession of faith called the Shema. The confession is called this because it begins with the Hebrew word shema meaning “hear:” “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!”. The heart, soul, and mind represent the whole person.
This command to love others is from Leviticus 19:18 it is not an imperative to love one’s self. People naturally love themselves and are at least somewhat self-centered. Because we love ourselves, we want the best for ourselves; likewise, we should be concerned for the welfare of others.
The Ten Commandments can be divided into two categories: those dealing with love for God (the first four Commandments) and those dealing with responsibilities toward other people (the last six Commandments). The same may be said for all the Law and the Prophets. The NKJV Study Bible
The heart, soul, and mind collectively represent the whole person; one should love God with total love and devotion. The greatest and first commandment Deuteronomy 6:5 also was one of the best-known commands, as it was part of the Shema—an ancient prayer recited by Jews twice every day.
The commands to love God and others do not replace the instructions of the Law or the teaching of the Prophets. Rather, obedience to this twofold commandment fulfills the essence of their teaching. Faithlife Study Bible
Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Luke 10:25–28
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”…
Matthew 19:19
‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
And to John Powell, I am grateful for this: “There’s a South African word called Sawubona, which means, ‘I see you’. The word is also sometimes interpreted as the God in me, sees the God in you. Bridging is seeing the other person. So it doesn’t mean you agree with the person. Doesn’t mean you change your mind, or they change your mind. But you see their humanity, you see their value, and you’re resolutely willing to open up and just listen, empathetic listening, compassionate listening…
One approach is to try to persuade the person to come to your side. Another is to avoid the person. Bridging is neither of those. Bridging is saying, I want to connect with the other person. Bridging is saying, I’m curious. Bridging involves connecting at the heart level, as well as the head level. So it’s really being present with someone.”
Yes. It is better to light a candle.
It is better to build a bridge.
Let us embrace the gift of Sawubona.
“Here's to the bridge-builders, the hand-holders, the light-bringers, those extraordinary souls wrapped in ordinary lives who quietly weave threads of humanity into an inhumane world. They are the unsung heroes in a world at war with itself. They are the whisperers of hope that peace is possible. Look for them in this present darkness. Light your candle with their flame. And then go. Build bridges. Hold hands. Bring light to a dark and desperate world. Be the hero you are looking for. Peace is possible. It begins with us.” L.R. Knost. Sabbath Moments
No comments:
Post a Comment