The Second of The Great Commandments

Scripture

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart…This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

~Matthew 22:37-39, NLT

Quote

The longer I live, the more I am convinced–these two commands sum up the Christian life.

~Ya’akov

How do we excite or awaken the Divine Life that is within those of us have have yielded our life to Christ? Do you want to love God more and the world less? Do you want to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and body? How do we awaken this passion that lies within us? {2 Peter 1:3-4} We endeavor conscientiously to obey the commands of Jesus. How do we love our neighbor? We do so through acts of kindness. We must look for opportunities to help our neighbors and not pass up any occasion for doing them good. Let’s say your neighbor is elderly, battling health issues, on a fixed income and their lawn mower is unusable. You cannot pull out of your drive without seeing the grass in their yard is knee high. What should you do? You could call and tell them that their yard needs mowing and that it has become an eye sore to the community or you could get on your riding mower and go cut their yard. Here is the question: are you cutting their yard because you love them or is it because you were convicted that it was the right thing to do?

Scougal’s advice is to act out of a sense of Christian duty and eventually the passion {loving your neighbor} will awaken or be aroused in you. I think he is right. I know I have used this in marriage counseling. If you act in a loving way toward someone, your affection for them will grow. If you doubt me, just try it! If you’ve already made up your mind that you are not going to love them, the principle is not applicable. Scougal also says, “These external performances are of little value in and of themselves.” Let’s say your neighbor is cranky and although you have helped them multiple times, they have never acknowledged any appreciation. What are we to do? Remember who were are actually serving–Jesus. We are not helping to earn their thanks; we are helping because Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor and if we continue to help, our love for our neighbor will grow but it doesn’t end there. The greater reward is that our love for God will grow also. Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a community where everyone practiced the two great commandments? It would be a heaven of sorts.

Extra

My very good friend Kevin Beal gave me a new book yesterday. It is called “Deeper”, by Dana Ortland. Ortland was inspired by Scougal and he shared some info that is not in Scougal’s little book, which actually was never intended to be a book, Scougal wrote it to encourage a friend. Here is what blew my mind: Henry Scougal was a professor of divinity at the University of Aberdeen and was promoted at the age of 28. Unbelievable! I have gone back and read this section three times just to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. It is amazing what God can do through people. All I have to say is THANK YOU JESUS FOR Henry Scougal and people like him. By the way, the University of Aberdeen is in Scotland and it is functioning to this day.

Another busy day planned: that doesn’t mean it will happen. Lord willing, I will be attending a COLS at 3:00. Tomorrow, Harold Thompson and I are going to the Marriott at the Space and Rocket Center. A speaker from HILLSDALE COLLEGE will be there. Harold and I are a part of the alumni. You can be a part too if you will send them a little money each month. Hillsdale takes no federal dollars, not even pell grants which is subtle form of welfare. I love their independence. Thursday is our DAY OF PRAYER for America. It is at Flint Baptist at 11:30. It is for anyone who has a burden for America. Pass the word.

New word for today comes from Augustine’s City of God and it is theurgy–the operation or effect of a supernatural or divine agency in human affairs.

Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.

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