Scripture Reading
Matthew 22:36–40 (NRSVUE)
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Introductory Remarks:
God is love. Love is God. A divine idea, “Love binds together the universe and everything in it.” (Charles Fillmore). When we abide in love, love abides in us and demonstrates itself as loving kindness, devoted service, cooperation, harmonious relationships and so much more.
‘‘It will be advantageous to your spiritual growth to keep in mind how Jesus continued to display an unconditional, impersonal love for all mankind despite personal challenges.” A Closer Walk With Jesus, pg. 67
Major Points of the Lesson:
- “God is love…” (I John 4:16 NRSVUE). God’s love is constant, unchanging and unfailing toward one and all.
- Jesus offered a standard for abiding in God’s love: Love God. Love your neighbour as yourself. This standard when applied equally to friend and foe keeps you aligned to love as a spiritual principle with no basis in personality.
Quote:
“Personality finds pleasure in pleasing people while Divine Love pleases God.”
Sheila R. McKeithen