OzThoughts Thursday 19th March 2009.

OzThoughts Thursday 19th March 2009.

[Note: There will be no ATAW tomorrow, Saturday, 21st March or OzThoughts from Sunday 22nd to Friday 27th March as I will be away from the computer. ]

What’s important to you? A religious scholar asked Jesus “"Which is most important of all the commandments?" Mark records the incident and it is today’s reading:

Mark 12:28-34 (The Message)
28 One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: "Which is most important of all the commandments?"
29-31 Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these."
32-33 The religion scholar said, "A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that's better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!"
34 When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, "You're almost there, right on the border of God's kingdom."
After that, no one else dared ask a question. (Mark 12:28-34. The Message)


Here we see again what could quickly be said is the slogan “Heart to God and hand to man” expressed in Jesus’ answer. We can see very clearly the heart (or whole) of man reaching out to God and giving him due place.

I wonder if Jesus answer about the second in importance does not indicate more than “hand to man?” We can easily give “a hand” but 'Love others as well as you love yourself ' indicate more than giving ‘a hand’ to others?

The religion scholar summarises Jesus’ answer and adds comments “Why, that's better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!"


[Listen: Band: (Hymn Tune : Margaret) : http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2543.mp3
or
Look and Listen: Organ (Hymn Tune: Richmond) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKA56XYieJg ]

O for a heart to praise my God,
A heart from sin set free,
A heart that always feels the blood
So freely spilt for me.

Chorus
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus:
There is room in my heart for thee.

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My great redeemer's throne;
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.

A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
Believing, true and clean;
Which neither life nor death can part
From him that dwells within.

A heart in every thought renewed,
And full of love divine;
Perfect and right, and pure and good,
A copy, Lord, of thine.

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart,
Come quickly from above;
Write thy new name upon my heart,
Thy new best name of love.
Authors: Charles Wesley (1707-88) (verses),
Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott (1836-97) (chorus)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 444

[ In preparation for Easter read a Christian book during Lent which is now. ]



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