Mark 12:28 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?”
I’ve heard the most important of all commandments short-formed to “Love God. Love others.” And while I really like that wording, it strikes me as marginally lacking because the original tells us to love our neighbors as *ourselves*.
Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
While I think I’m pretty good at being loving, gracious, compassionate—to others, I’m often not very kind to myself. So the directive to love others as I love myself means that I need to do a better job at being loving and compassionate to myself than I currently do. I suspect I’m not alone in this habit and this need.
Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Lord, Thank You for the reminder of what’s important, “Love God. Love others.” Thank You also for the reminder that if I am to love others as I love myself, I need to be kinder and more compassionate to myself than I generally am. Thank You for the certainty that I am Your deeply loved child, even when I struggle. Amen.
Mark 12:33 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.”
Have a blessed day.