A Word for Serious Followers

Long ago Jesus said that the first commandment was to love God.  There is no commandment more important.  Even though the question which prompted Him to offer this word was, "Which commandment is first of all?"  (Mark 12:28), Jesus went on to add what no one was asking. "The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:31).  These two words have forever been linked together in such a way that we have come to think of the two words as being inseparable.  Ignoring part of it is to show disregard tor the whole.  

What is often missed is that Jesus tied these commandments with the most important prayer of Judaism.  He actually was quoting what is found in Deuteronomy 6:4:  "Hear O Israel:  The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."  The importance of this Word is underscored by what follows this Hebrew prayer known as the Shema.  It says, "Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.  Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down, and when you rise.  Bind them as a sign on your hand, fiex them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on your doorposts of your house and on your gates."  (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).  

This commandment of Jesus to love remains the foundation of our life with God and with one another.  It is a word which we need to embrace and give flesh in our own life.  It is a word which we  called to pass to the generations which come behind us. It is a Word meant to guide in us in everything we undertake as well as in all the personal encounters of the day.  There is no alternative, or lesser way for those who are serious about being a disciple of Jesus.