Simple. Not easy. Just simple

 

If you are a believer, if you follow Jesus, you might sometimes wonder how to do what it is that he wants you to do.

In Matthew 22:37-40 he makes it very clear. In answer to the question posed to him about which is the most important commandment, he responds simply and succinctly:

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

This referencing the commandments of the Old Testament - Deuteronomy 6:4.

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”

Heart, soul, mind, and strength represent the intellect, the will, the emotions, the spirituality, and physical being.

Jesus goes on to add,

“A second is equally important: love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

This is the guiding principle behind my desire to keep it simple. There is a lot to unpack in those words from Scripture, but in their essence they are quite simple.

Love.

Love God.

Love yourself.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Love with your intellect, your will, your emotions and your physical being.

Love in thought, word, and deed.

Simple. Not easy. Just simple.