Have you ever confidently walked up to a store’s door and pushed the handle only to find it didn’t budge? Have you then proceeded to look down and realized the door says “pull”?
That’s so embarrassing, right?
You would think that after thousands of years of human adaptation we would be smart enough to actually READ the signs that are directly in our line of sight…
So often I think our brains over complicate things. We’re quick to want to find solutions and better technique when faced with problems and though those things can be good, they can also be our downfall in our relationship with Jesus.
We, so frequently, make walking with Jesus difficult. We get so caught up on pushing the door that we miss the words written on it.
Jesus is very clear on what He expects of us. He’s straight forward on how much He loves us and what lengths He will go to save us.
Matthew 22:27-40 says
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Jesus tells us in that passage that we are to love God above all things. Yes, that includes our spouse, kids, best friends, pets, vacations, and all things we think are good in the world.
Then we are to love others as we love ourselves. That includes those difficult people you work with, the bullies at school, and the people on your facebook posting ignorance.
Then we’re told in Romans 8:38-39
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
You see, those are just two of the countless examples of what Jesus expects of us and shows how much He truly loves us.
I know, it seems contradictory to say those things are simple and I’m not necessarily meaning the act of putting God first and loving people all the time will be easy but the direction and instruction is very simple.
The biggest thing I’m trying to remind myself of lately is that I don’t have to be perfect at it! All we really have to do is love God, surround ourselves with the things of Him and He will do the rest!
As we draw closer to Him, we will look more like Him and then it will be that simple.
Pray with me!
Lord, we love you. Thank you for all you do, all the ways we have seen you work in our lives and the ways that we haven’t noticed. Thank you for giving us instructions and mostly not leaving us with just that but the promise to guide us through this life until we see you face to face. Help us to look more like you. In Jesus name,
Amen!
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