Today is Maundy Thursday, also called “Holy Thursday,” and it also the day the Lord emphasizes his command, his mandate, to us:
Love each other as I have loved you.
Some of Jesus’ most important mandates or commands are simply put, but not simply done. This would one of those commands that is easy to say but not so easy to live out. It is such an important one to live by though. Several years ago David Kinnamen wrote a book called, “UnChristian” and in this book he noted that people that are not a part of the faith thought Christians were, “hypocritical, insensitive, and judgmental.” He goes on to say that Christians are viewed to be “UnChristian,” or the opposite of the Lord Jesus that we say we are disciples of.
When you live out the word of God and follow all the law that is listed in the bible, but do not sow and show love to all in your life then all those things that you do “successfully” mean nothing. This always goes back to many controversial issues in the church, like homosexuality, but I would argue that the issue makes no matter.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ I have but one job. Jesus calls it the “Greatest Commandment.”
“Jesus replied, ‘The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31)
Does this passage not imply that if you truly love the Lord your God with all that you are then YOU WILL love your neighbor as yourself. That in loving God we truly understand that we are called to LOVE ALL as well?
This is what happens when we don’t? We are hypocritical, judgmental, and the opposite of Christ. Period.
It doesn’t matter what your neighbor is doing, YOU LOVE ALL THE TIME.
May God’s people be blessed by the reading and hearing of God’s word. Thanks be to God.