“Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.””
Mark 12:29-31 NKJV
Crossroads
Loving is one of the hardest choices I have had to make in my life, as I am one who has experienced the opposite of love. I have the color of a segment of humanity, that prompts impulsive reactions from others, frequently deciding how I am to be treated before I can even say or do anything. It is a constant struggle, that has worn me down to the degree that I have little desire to interact with humanity.
Having had endured a life time of such pressure, I require the power of the Holy Spirit to allow me to live peaceably and show the love of Christ. The struggle is in every aspect of my life, sometimes so overwhelming that I hide myself away from things that I used to enjoy, which have now become filled with struggle.
Even now, I am battling over the decision to stay or go from a religious institution I hold dear. I am at the crossroads.
As I read through Mark chapter 12, I was reminded of the immensity of Jesus’ answer on the greatest of commandments. The first has so many ramifications, so many implications for the follower of Jesus. To love God is to obey in all situations, even when doing so is most difficult. We are living in a time when it is most hard, as the world we are living in, is decidedly anti-God, and militant in its disobedience to the word.
The pressure to choose the world or the Lord has become a day to day choice for the Christian. Even now, we are seeing the falling away commence, as people buckle, having not the desire to press on for the Lord.
The first commandment of God is tied to the second, in that as we love the Lord with all that we are, we inevitably take on His heart, and love the people that He loves. As wee go through the world, we live at the cross section of love for God and love for humanity.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:16-17 NKJV
In our flesh, we have a propensity to not be able to see people from God’s perspective, and we fail to see them as they are, as sinners in need of salvation. In my situation, I cling to the Father, seeking His heart day after day, that I be able to see those in opposition as those He loves. It is a battle with the flesh.
Brothers and sisters, let us consider the great commandment, and let us assess where we stand in regard to it. Are we loving God with all of our hearts, minds, souls and strength, or are we holding back compartments, where we keep our bias and fleshly desires, having not surrendered them.
Let us also consider our love for our neighbors. Are we seeing others as Jesus does, or do we keep people we do not like at a distance, thus not fulfilling the command to love. As I ask you this, I am also asking myself. I have to admit, that I am struggling, so much so that I have begun to live as hermit in this ongoing pandemic. My lack of immunity has become a convenience.
Let us call upon the Lord to help us to love according to the Scriptures.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. ”
I Corinthians 13:4-8a NKJV
In these latter days, we are being called upon to love the Lord more than we have ever before, as we await the day of Jesus’ return. We are also being called to love others, as we have been given a mission to take the Gospel. The latter calling, is very much contingent on the first, and the latter is the very reason the Lord has saved us.
““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:43-45 NKJV
Pray for me.
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Musings from an idle mind 
Those decisions are so difficult Bernie. May the Lord lead you, and I will pray for you specifically about that. God bless you friend
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