Teacher, You Have Truly Stated

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Teacher,  You Have Truly Stated

We should not believe everything we hear.     There is so much information bombarding us  day after day,  that it’s easy to fall  into a pattern  of just believing anything  anyone tells us.     But,  believing everything  when a seemingly nice person said it  can be very dangerous.      Just because the speaker is good-looking,  confident,  popular,  and apparently knowledgeable  does not mean  they are speaking the truth  we need to know.

In Jesus’ day  there was a scribe,  who was listening  to other religious leaders argue  with Jesus.      He realized  that Jesus always spoke well  and was in agreement  with God’s given word.     So,  in Mark 12:28-34,  we can read his conversation with Jesus — just checking to see  if Jesus really understood  the Old Testament.

And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing,  and recognizing  that He had answered them well,  asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost  of all?”

Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel;  the LORD our God is one LORD;  and you shall love the LORD your God  with all your heart,  and with all your soul,  and with all your mind,  and with all your strength.’        The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’        There is no other commandment greater than these.”

And the scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher,  You have truly stated  that He is One;  and there is no one else  besides Him;  and to love Him  with all the heart  and with all the understanding  and with all the strength,  and to love one’s neighbor as himself,  is much more  than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

And when Jesus saw  that he had answered intelligently,  He said to him, “You are not far  from the kingdom of God.”

It is vital  that we recognize the truth  about God  and let truth  lead our lives.     This scribe recognized this fact.      So,  as Jesus spoke,  he realized  that everything Jesus said was  in total agreement  with the word of God.      We,  too,  need to check out Jesus’ words  and see how they agree  with God’s word  in the Old Testament.

It was a custom  in the Jewish community  to always quote Deuteronomy 6:4,  saying, “Hear, O Israel;  the LORD our God  is one LORD.”      That truth was vitally important because all their heathen neighbors worshiped many different gods — idols.      If the Israelites missed that truth,  they would be no better  than any heathen  and would be lost eternally.      So,  Jesus was right  in saying this was the foremost commandment.

Because this is the foremost commandment,  it follows  that we must love the LORD with all our heart,  soul,  mind,  and strength.      To do anything less is to sin  because there simply is  no other God.      Nothing anyone does  will ever change that truth.      People will say  what they want — and do what they want — but the LORD will always remain God Almighty  over all.       And,  we will all have to face His judgment  when our days here are done.

Jesus  “truly stated”  God’s word.      We need to check it out  and do the same.      Seeing God’s eternal power  in His word,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      LORD,  open our eyes,  ears,  hearts,  and minds  to know You  in the right way.      Then,  seeing how graciously You have loved us  in Christ Jesus,  may our whole  lives return that love  in word and deed.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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