By Pastor Andrew Farland
I don’t know about you, but for me, I can get overwhelmed trying to figure out the right thing to do in any given situation. How do I know I’m doing the right thing? With unlimited life circumstances and an unlimited amount of responses, it helps me to simplify my faith by choosing the right focus.
Having heard so many of His teachings, an expert on the law once asked Jesus what was necessary to inherit eternal life. This was a man that knew the law forwards and backward; he spent most of his time studying the law! But still, he wanted to hear from Jesus . . . what should I focus on?
The way that I would have asked this question was more like this:
“Jesus, we’ve heard so many different things that we are to do and not do, and it can get confusing and overwhelming at times.
What is the main thing we should be focused on? How can we make sure to do all that you’ve asked of us so that we end up with you in heaven?
Jesus already responded with this concise statement: “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul strength, and mind, and, love your neighbor as yourself.”
If we learn to focus on Loving God, we are less likely to sin against Him. If we are focused on loving others like ourselves, we are less likely to commit adultery, murder, steal or covet. And thus Loving God and others is the proper and ultimate fulfillment of God’s moral law! Today, if you are getting overwhelmed and not sure where to put your focus, put it on the Love God has for yes you do that it will make it much easier to Love God and those around you.
Here’s a question to ask yourself the next time you come up against a difficult situation: “What’s the most loving thing I can do here?”
Mark 12:30-31
“’ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Be encouraged today because God is with you.
