“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

Matthew 22:34-40

“When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, an expert in the law, asking him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets.”

Jesus was asked 183 questions and only answered a few of those questions directly. This is one of those he answered directly. Which is the greatest commandment? Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. It sounds so simple and easy, but it can be quite difficult to love our neighbors, let alone ourselves. In I John 4:20-21 there is a great passage in relation to what it means to love God: “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”

If we ever wonder who our neighbor might be, it’s quite simple. Your neighbors and mine are whoever we happen to find in front of us any given day. No questions asked.

Prayer:

I cannot say “OUR”

if my religion has no room for other people and their needs.

I cannot say "Father"

if I do not accept others as siblings in my daily life.

I cannot say "who art in heaven"

if all my interests and pursuits are earthly things.

I cannot say "hallowed be thy name"

if the way I live my life does not give honor to God.

I cannot say "thy kingdom come"

if my needs and wants and agenda always come first.

I cannot say "on earth as it is in heaven"

unless I am ready to give myself to God's way here and now.

I cannot say "give us this day our daily bread"

if I ignore the needs of others.

I cannot say "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”

if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone or refuse to forgive them.

I cannot say "lead us not into temptation"

if I choose to remain in situations where I am tempted.

I cannot say "deliver us from evil"

if I am not prepared to fight against evil in my life and injustices in the lives of others.

I cannot say "thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory"

if my way of life does not reflect God's way and I seek my own power and glory first.

I cannot say "Amen"

unless I can honestly say also,

"Cost what it may, this is my prayer. Let it be so."

Click here for a graphic of the above prayer.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:

Read James 2:1-13

How does this passage from James relate to our reading from Matthew 22:34-40 and Jesus’ answer to the question of the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

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