Burden Free

Prayer: Thank You LORD for this new day! Let us rejoice and be glad in every part of it.  For You are good and so worthy to be praised.  In the Mighty Name of Jesus.  Amen.
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JESUS' MINISTRY IN JERUSALEM

Mark 12:28-34 (NIV)

The Greatest Commandment

²⁸One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
²⁹"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' ³¹The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
³²"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ³³To 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."
³⁴When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

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God is not burdensome.  Loving Him, trusting Him, obeying Him; in no way has He commanded anything to lay burdens on us.  Do you know who places the burden?  WE DO!  We add extras to something that God has explained so simply and clearly.  God's laws can be reduced to two simple principles: Love God and Love Others. Think about how you want to be treated when someone loves you.  Think about how you intend to treat people who you love.  These commandments are from the Old Testament (keeping the Old Testament very relevant; Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18).  When you love God completely; with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all of your emotions, and with all your strength;  and care for others as you care for yourself (first truly loving your yourself), then you have fulfilled the intent of the Ten Commandments and every other command given from God.  According to Jesus, these two commandments summarize all God's laws.

Is this ruling your thoughts, decisions and actions?  Be honest with yourself and with God.  Is He loved with everything you are and in everything you do?

This teacher had grasped the intent of God's law, that true obedience comes from the heart; but he missed the fact that it all led to Jesus.  It made sense to him, but he still was missing faith in Jesus.  This is why Jesus told him he wasn't far from the Kingdom of God.  He needed Jesus to get him there.

Do you have Jesus? I'm asking saved and unsaved: Is Jesus Your Savior?  Because if He is, we need to begin to demonstrate this in everything we do, every day of our lives.

Our challenge today, is to ask ourselves in making every decision: "Which course of action best demonstrates MY love for God, MY love for others and MY Savior's presence in our lives?"

Watch how much you learn about yourself, in setting yourself up to recognize who you really are.

I pray freedom from burdens and holy change erupts from each of us through this experience, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen