Matthew 22:34-40

The religious leaders didn’t really want to know Jesus’ answer because they were curious. Rather they wanted to trap him; to find any excuse to get rid of his teaching, his influence, his popularity.

Jesus knew what they were doing and so provided an answer that could not be argued.

Love God with all you have.

Love people like you love yourself.

It all comes down to this. Everything (Prophecy, Law, Faith) rides on these things.

It’s these two things, period. We get them right, everything else falls into place.

But is it really that simple?

In my ministry I have had the privilege of meeting some interesting people. (Knowing that that description can be applied to me just the same!) And while not every one of those people were easily lovable or even likeable, my job, my tradition, my religion, my Jesus tells me it was important to love them. Have I succeeded at that? Let me be honest, probably not, at least not to the degree Jesus wanted me to, wants me to.

What I have discovered, though, is that when I give it my best shot to love someone, even when it’s not easy, I have come to experience the love of God more. Maybe it’s because I’m just as unlovable at times myself and Jesus chooses to love me anyway.

Loving God requires us opening up and giving our heart…to love.(Period) The same with the soul. The same with the mind. The more we practice love, the more we experience love. The more we experience love, the more we can receive of the love of others and from God.

Maybe it is that simple and it truly all does come down to this.