Christ Church Daily Devotion May 11 2024

In this Daily Devotion, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment in the law. He answers that it is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. These two commandments are the foundation of being a follower of Christ. We are challenged to grow in our love for God and for others, even when it's difficult. We need the Holy Spirit to empower and guide us in living out these commandments. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for May 11th, 2024. Today, we'll be reading from Matthew chapter 22, verses 34 through 40. Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question. Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. Some of you have heard me point to this passage before as being the basis for my elevator speech about what it means to be the people of Christ. Love God and love people. Jesus was asked to tell what the most important commandment in all the scriptures was. At that time, what we know as the Old Testament. He quoted the commandment to, in summary, love God with everything you are. But he also added another commandment alongside it. To love one's neighbor as you love yourself. For me, any foundational teachings from the New Testament have to include this summary passage. Of course, as with all our other beliefs, it is so important that this be more than just something we affirm in our mind. Our constant challenge is learning to live this in our daily, everyday life. Both parts of it. Our love for God is something that should be growing in us day by day and year by year. Do you have a deeper love for God than you had a year ago, five years ago, or even ten years ago? How would you describe that? Also, how about your love for other people? How would you describe that? Can you say that that is growing in you? From my experience, this part of the equation is harder to let grow and deepen. People can be hard to love sometimes. It's easy to get frustrated or even angry with them. Too often, we are satisfied with just tolerating people rather than learning to love them. How are you doing with this fundamental part of being a follower of Jesus Christ? Your personal worship option. Be reminded today that none of us can live these commandments on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to both empower and guide us in this way. Offer a prayer, opening yourself to more fully allow this Spirit to teach you this way of Christ.