Mark 12:30-31
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, 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."
This is such an easy command from Jesus, yet so often we break it. The first part seems easy enough, but is it really? Do we give God thanks for everything we have, or are we so into ourselves that we think it's due to our actions? Do we spend our down time in prayer, meditation or study in scripture, or do we spend our time in gossip on social media or various websites? Do we just do our weekend worship obligation, in and out of church in an hour or so, or do we spend extra time in fervent prayer? Its easy to say "I love you," but do we really show it?
The second part is easy to identify for most of us. Do we really love our neighbors as we should? Some of us have neighbors that we would do anything for, but is that how our neighbor is defined? Our neighbors are not only those in close proximity, but those of some distance. Some are different colors and cultures, speaking different languages and approaching the outlook of the world in ways different that we might. Do we love them as we love ourselves? Watching the evening news or reading comments from people on various topics on news articles and social media, it is evident that we don't follow this command. In fact, our communication has become so vitriolic that it can become violent, not just in our homes and neighborhoods, but nationally and globally. Do you love your spouse or children as you should? Your parents and siblings? Lord, we pray today asking for forgiveness for not loving you as ourselves and not loving our neighbors as we should.
