KEEP IT SIMPLE

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

Matthew 22:35-40

The late Bruce Larson, often referred to as the Father of Relational Theology, once told me that the Bible can be summarized in six words, “God loves you. Don’t be stupid.” Perfectly and simply put.

Yet, isn’t it interesting how people try to complicate things? Just look how complicated God has become? He didn’t make it that way. We did.

The worldwide Christian family has become splintered into thousands of traditions, cultures and denominations, each based on different interpretations and beliefs. Every year thousands of Christian books are published, all attempting to explain the Bible down to the smallest, most confusing, most complicated detail.

Down through the centuries, people have created a lot of things that get in the way of our Lord’s simple message. That’s why it’s important to remember that we need to focus on the key points and not get lost in the world’s details. Otherwise we overlook our true faith, while religion becomes a source of confusion and conflict.

Jesus explained it through just two basic principles. When the religious leaders of His day, experts in religious law, tried to test Jesus they asked Him which of the commandments was the most important. He told them, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’" 

Here, through the Words of Jesus Himself, we find the foundation and summation of everything in the Bible. Our Lord simply asks that we love Him and love others enough to treat them as we would like to be treated. Is that so hard to understand?

Maybe if people would actually read the Bible they'd realize there's nothing further to explain. This week, reflect upon these two simple statements of Christ: Love God. Love people.

This Week’s Prayer

Lord, your message is simple and powerful. I fully understand and accept your command to love you and love others. Sometimes I look for ways to complicate these two commands so that I don’t have to get right down to it and follow them. Please allow me the strength and courage to follow the simplicity of Your Word no matter what. In every situation let me see your will and give me the discipline to follow it. Amen.