Read Mark 12:28-31

One of the teachers of the law,
noticing that Jesus had given them (those who asked a previous question) a good answer,
asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the MOST IMPORTANT?”

There were ten commandments given the children of God.
They were presented in a prioritized manner
when God wrote them on the tablets of stone for Moses to deliver.
Acknowledging God as God alone,
that there is but one God
is written first.
Obeying and worshiping Him is our duty.

Knowing Him intimately implies not only factual knowledge of who He is,
but experiencing Him in relationship by spending time with Him,
listening to Him through His Word, choosing (willing) to do what He says,
placing our confidence and trust in Him and all that He says.
Honoring Him means de-throning anything that compromises His position in my life,
for He is a jealous God; He shares His place with no one and nothing.
He is God and, as God, has a right to command what He does.
His commands are good.
They keep us in our rightful position with Him and with each other.

So important is the relationship between God and us that He commands us
to rest and use the Sabbath to focus on Him, remembering all that He has done.
He knew that we would forget, that other things would crowd into the space
He alone was to occupy in our lives.
And He knew that unless the relationship between God and each of us was right,
our relationships with others would be flawed.

When we have learned and follow the this commandment,
we will find the fruit of the Spirit growing in our lives,
necessary if our relationships with others
are to grow in healthy, God-honoring ways.

“Well said, Teacher.”
That was the conclusion and response of the teacher of the law
who posed the question:
“You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him.
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.”

Jesus then responded with: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
MARK 12:32-34

Why do you think Jesus made that statement?

Twila Charles Leichty – L10

---------------------------------------------------

Jesus was an observer, a people watcher.
The Bible tells us so.
As Jesus taught, He said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law.
They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplace,
and have the most important seats in the synagogue
and the places of honor at banquets.
They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers...”
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put
and watched the crowd putting their offerings into the temple treasury.
Many rich people threw in large amounts.
But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,
worth only a fraction of a penny.”
MARK 12:38-42

Jesus taught many things.
He taught us that we can learn many things about people by watching what they do,
that attitudes and motives can be discerned through repeated behaviors.
He taught us also to look at the whole picture, not to judge a behavior alone.
He taught us to be careful, wise in our observations, not hasty in our conclusions.

Integrity is not determined by external behaviors
but by how well the external behaviors match the attitudes and motives within.

Teachers do not always speak truth.
A generous person does not always give the most money.
A person who prays publicly is not always sincere.
The best-dressed person is not always beautiful on the inside.

To ponder:
When have you misjudged a person,
later delightfully discovering a real pearl hidden within a broken shell?
Or when have you embraced someone as a friend,
only to discover you'd been used as the means to another's selfish end?

Twila Charles Leichty – L11