This week’s prayer reveals the heart of what it looks like to be wholly devoted:
O God,
you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor:
Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
One day Jesus was fielding questions right and left, and this one came from a religious leader who hoped to trap him into saying something that could be used against him:
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
I can hear just a bit of snark in his tone, can't you?
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment."
"Okay, all right." The man might have nodded his head and given a small shrug. "You got that one,Jesus."
But just as the man turns to go, Jesus holds up his hand, "Hang on a second, there's more:"
"A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matt. 22:36-40
Wow. Let's just sit with that for a moment.
This week, let’s allow the words of Jesus to sink deep into our hearts. If you've ever wondered what God's will is for your life, this is it! Love God and love your neighbor--and who is your neighbor? Oh, the one who doesn't look like you, agree with you, believe like you, or even vote like you. In short, your neighbor is the "other."
Ouch. This might be difficult.
Just remember, it’s through the grace of the Holy Spirit--as we surrender to Him--that we do this. Through Him, we can love God completely and love our neighbors without reservation. This is truly living in the very center of His will.
What will this look like in your life this week? Are you daring enough to pray this bold prayer?
Let's do it together!
Blessings,
Rachel
