2nd like 1st
Everyone pays attention to what is labeled #1. There's no reason we shouldn't. However, when society teaches that #1 is everything, the assumption is that anything thereafter is irrelevant. Oh, how Jesus plainly said otherwise. He certainly stated that the 1st and greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" in Matthew 22:37 (NIV). Most would have stopped with #1. Not Jesus. He goes on to say, "And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself" in verse 38.
Whatever is placed 1st in our minds is easier to remember and therefore generally adhered to often. However, this is an instance where 2nd is equally important. If you notice in this scripture, Jesus never had to command us to love ourselves. That comes natural. Whether we admit it or not, we love ourselves. We show it every day. We base our lives on our needs and desires. We do not neglect ourselves. Jesus didn't condemn us of that. He commanded us to have that same mindset and instinct for others.
Jesus knew that we would naturally remain selfish unless we were commanded - just like children have to be commanded to do certain things until it becomes an involuntary response, habit or longing. When it comes to those of us who know the greatest commandment(s), in that the 2nd is like the 1st, shouldn't our response be just as natural to give love to others the way we love ourselves?
If we are Jesus to this world, then we will love others. Loving is an action - not just a thought. You never had to question whether Jesus loved, because He always showed it. I'm so proud that one of my younger sisters at the age of 14 "gets it." The following is a poem she wrote as a response to our call to the great commission. In short - loving others. She has the heartbeat of Jesus and follows the 2nd like the 1st.
Whatever is placed 1st in our minds is easier to remember and therefore generally adhered to often. However, this is an instance where 2nd is equally important. If you notice in this scripture, Jesus never had to command us to love ourselves. That comes natural. Whether we admit it or not, we love ourselves. We show it every day. We base our lives on our needs and desires. We do not neglect ourselves. Jesus didn't condemn us of that. He commanded us to have that same mindset and instinct for others.
Jesus knew that we would naturally remain selfish unless we were commanded - just like children have to be commanded to do certain things until it becomes an involuntary response, habit or longing. When it comes to those of us who know the greatest commandment(s), in that the 2nd is like the 1st, shouldn't our response be just as natural to give love to others the way we love ourselves?
If we are Jesus to this world, then we will love others. Loving is an action - not just a thought. You never had to question whether Jesus loved, because He always showed it. I'm so proud that one of my younger sisters at the age of 14 "gets it." The following is a poem she wrote as a response to our call to the great commission. In short - loving others. She has the heartbeat of Jesus and follows the 2nd like the 1st.
While people in other countries are worried
About what they are going to eat tonight.
We worry about how our life is never going right.
They sleep on dirt floors, while we lose sleep about the trim around our doors.
They fight every day just to get a dime
While we complain, about how there just doesn’t seem to be enough time.
They drink things that are way too old,
Yet we complain if our drink isn’t cold.
Depression, no food, and no money are what they fear.
When we don’t get our way, we start to shed a tear.
They fight everyday just to get a crumb of bread
And we always fret that we just need to get ahead.
They don’t have a blanket to cover up with much less a bed.
While were whine, what time is our next meal going to be fed?
In life, they are simply just trying to find a way.
Yet we remain stuck in yesterday.
We need to step out, and show them we are here,
So no longer they will have depression, no food, or fear.
Do we really think that somebody else will take care of them?
Instead let’s let our light shine instead of being dim.
Let’s go out and let them see!
We’re here to say,
Here am I, Send Me!
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