Loving Sacrfice

Sacred Gifts and Holy Gatherings
What We Bring to God

Acceptable Offerings

Mark 12:28-34  The Message

The Most Important Commandment

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.

For Reflection 

The litmus test for authentic Christianity is love.  If one abides in the love of God and loves as God loves one will never become a pseudo-Christian.  Spewing hate can never be a Christian act.  Bearing false or misleading witness can never be a Christian act.  Treating others inhospitably can never be a Christian act.  Doing violence or even advocating it can never be a Christian act.  Loving others as one loves him or her self is Christian.

Pray

for those who are persecuted, disenfranchised, or terrorized and who can not live a life of security and peace.  Pray for those who pervert the Christian faith in order to achieve a self-serving end.  Pray that you will seek to serve the Lord in all things.