September 5th

September 5th -- Mark 12:28-37

Give the passage a read, please!

Anyone who knows me well enough will know that I look at my faith as religion, yes, but mostly relationship > religion. See, what the Pharisees had was religion. Obeying God's laws - the religion side of things - is still important. However, the most important part about our faith is our relationship with God. This passage says that the greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." You can't love someone without having some form of relationship (whether that be as family, a friend, or a significant other). The stronger your relationship grows with someone, the more you come to love them. If we are supposed to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then we need to have a really tight relationship with Him in order to be able to do that. This passage also says the second greatest commandment is to "love your neighbour as yourself". Again, this is a form of relationship, even if it is one-sided when we treat another with love and are not treated so in return. However, it is important. God has commanded us to do this. Why? Well, we are all made in the image of God - by loving others we are loving God still more. So, the rules and laws of faith are important - for example, it's important we don't have idols, we don't steal, we don't murder, and we obey our parents. However, the most important focus of our faith should be our relationship with God. When that falls into place, everything else will, because you will start to follow the religion side and its rules out of a love for God and a desire to please Him in all you do.

So, push yourself daily to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love all these children of God on this earth! Even the lost ones!

God bless! Shalom!