The Greatest Commandment

 “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 your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭12:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/111/mrk.12.28-31.niv

Lord if I pray day and night and do not love or forgive others, what good is it?  Holiness is an attitude, a willingness to sacrifice comforts and desires for the good of another because of my love for you.  It is not a motivation born of rules and regulations but of the heart.  It is the willful intention and action to desire and to live in your shadow, taking that daily cross without complaints.  

Lord God help me for I am a sinner.  I often ignore your commandments; too afraid to let go of my pride or envy or sloth or anger.  I’m too afraid to love you fully because of what I will have to surrender.  Help me to let my ego die and in its place plant a heart filled with mercy and compassion.