Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Devotion 6.29.17

How can we summarize the teachings in scripture?  If given a chance to summarize them in one statement, what would that be?  There are two occasions in which Christ is asked that.  In one, he turns the question back to the questioner which leads to the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10).  In another, Christ is asked again by a Pharisee the same question, "Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" (Matthew 22)

Luther uses the Matthew 22 passage to summarize the two tables of the 10 Commandments, as does Christ, but they point us to a good summary of the scripture in its entirety.  "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment." (Summary of the First Table) And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."  Christ is quoting Deuteronomy 6 which is why his answer appears in quotes. 

Yet all of scripture tells us to put God first by focusing on Christ.  All of scripture also points us to share that love of Christ as the Holy Spirit works through us.  Sharing this love to all people (our neighbor) is also fulfilling Christ's commission for us to "go and make disciples of all nations."

We pray that we follow Christ, the fulfillment of the law on our behalf.  Christ made perfect the imperfect.  We pray that we share this with our neighbor, who truly is "all people."

Hope Men's Ministry

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