DAILY READING
REFLECTION
With All
by Beth Voltmann
Like the teacher of the law, perhaps we might ask Jesus:
“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)
“Love with all...”
This is a fairly easy scripture to quote, but not as easy to live out in obedience to God.
According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary, the meaning of ALL is: The whole quantity, extent, duration, amount, quality, or degree.
I distinctly remember one Sunday morning years ago... My husband and I were in the pseudo-chaotic years of raising four children and trying to get them all to church on time. I cannot recall the exact reason, but my morning mood had grown dark because of frustration, and by the time we sat down in the sanctuary, my family was very aware of it. Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”
As the worship music started, these words set to melody washed over me...
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The Lord spoke gently to my spirit and reminded me I could not fully worship him until I laid my anger at his feet and loved with “my all.”
The teacher in our reading replied, “To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offering and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:33)
PRAYER
Lord, each Sunday during the time of confession, I am reminded that “we have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves...” I desire, as your disciple, to love with all... believe with all... follow with all... and to serve with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Wholly yours—I surrender all. Thank you for your mercy through Christ Jesus. Please forgive, renew, and lead me so I may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
