Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away…No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.” vss. 11, 14
Deuteronomy 30:9-14
There are a lot of rules, commandments, and ordinances in the Hebrew scriptures. It can be mind-boggling to try to keep track of them all. Indeed, at times people were driven to distraction in their efforts to obey them. Often, they would lose track of the essentials. So, the writer of Deuteronomy calls them back to the center. There’s only one commandment that the people need to worry about, and that is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Jesus picks up on that great truth in his teaching, and adds a second, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Being a disciple really isn’t rocket science–it’s all about loving! Of course, as basic as that might sound, we all know in our hearts that it’s not quite that simple. Loving can become enormously challenging when we realize just who it is that we are called to love, because no one is excluded! We can spend a lifetime trying to make loving a part of our persona, and never quite pull it off. Our one consolation is that God’s love for us is unconditional and never failing. What we can’t do, God does!
Thought for the Day: When does my love fall short?
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