Overwhelmed by Love

I've been preparing to preach this coming Sunday. My thoughts have been pretty well consumed with how to communicate all that is one my heart. My text is Mark 12:28-34, and the conversation between the Jesus and the teacher of the law. Love is the theme. Love is the focus. Love is Jesus in the flesh.

What started out as a call to the high cost of discipleship ended up being a crash course into the grace, mercy and great love of God.

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love you neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." 

I focused in on that ALL word. Of ALL the commandements, which is the priority? Love God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength. Five times. ALL. Such a small word - such a huge meaning.

And then it hit me. I wasn't doing it. I wasn't keeping the one commandment that Jesus said was the priority. I couldn't do it. I couldn't because I compartmentalized my life. I kept parts back for myself. I didn't give him my ALL.

Fortunately for me and for the people in PeEll, I've been memorizing Romans 8. I only have the first four verses down, (well, nearly down anyway) The words came flooding into my heart, I believe right straight from the heart of God,

So now, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us. So God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body just like the body we sinners have. And in that body, God declared and end to sin's control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us who no longer follow our sinful nature, but instead follow the Spirit.

The law - even the greatest law - cannot save us. Only Jesus can. Only his blood, his forgiveness, his grace, the life-giving Spirit of God can free us from the power of sin. This is why the teacher of the law was "close" to the kingdom, but not in it. This is why we cannot compare ourselves, or try harder to love God. As John said, "We love him because he loved us first." And demonstrated that love by laying down his life as a sacrifice. for our sin - my sin.

I'm undone. All over again. His love is overwhelming.