Greetings, Precious Family:

May the Peace of the Lord be with you.

Family, I’m going to get right to the point this evening.

As Christians, most of us are familiar with the Ten Commandments. They are what many Christian families know and reference most often. But for those who study a little deeper, we understand that under the Mosaic Law there were not just ten commandments — there were 613.

In the Old Testament, there were detailed laws and instructions for nearly every aspect of life — from how to properly sacrifice an animal to everyday lifestyle practices. The Law was comprehensive and precise.

What I find most interesting is when Jesus was asked by a Pharisee which commandment was the greatest (Matthew 22:36–40). Without hesitation, Jesus answered: first, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and second, to love your neighbor as yourself.
Out of 613 laws, Jesus narrowed it down to love.

We were created in the image and likeness of God for the purpose of having an intimate, worshipful relationship with Him. Because humanity could not perfectly uphold the law, God, in His great love, humbled Himself and came in human form as the ultimate sacrifice — removing every barrier that could hinder a relationship with Him.

What an amazing and precious love this is, family.

Don’t take it for granted. Don’t allow anyone, any politics, or anything to take the place of God in your life. When everything else is stripped away, what remains is a Savior who simply wants to be close to you.

And that has always been His heart.

Scripture Passage of the Day

Matthew 22:34-40
New International Version
The Greatest Commandment

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Let Us Pray

Spirit of the Living God, Thank You for desiring to be close to us. Thank You that beyond every command and instruction, Your heart has always been about love and relationship.

Lord, teach us to love You with all of our heart, all of our soul, and all of our mind. Remove anything within us that competes for Your place. Strip away distractions, pride, fear, and anything that tries to take priority over intimacy with You.

Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself and becoming the ultimate sacrifice so that nothing could stand between us and the Father. Help us never to take that gift for granted.

Draw us closer. Soften our hearts. Align our lives with Your greatest commandment — to love You fully and to love others well.

We want to be near You, Lord, just as You desire to be near us. We lift this prayer to you. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

And we let it be…And do it is…

Amen, Amen, and Amen

Video of the Day

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA (USA)