November 9, 2008
Prayer for the Week
Posted by Pastor John Loppnow
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Jesus Creed
Scot McKnight, the author of The Jesus Creed, writes powerfully about the way Jesus amended Judiasm’s creed – The Shema (Duet 6:4-9). Jesus took the spiritual center of Judiasm and added what he deemed important – the act of loving others. Central is loving God with all of who we are and Jesus said in order to live the life he desires we must love God and love others. They cannot be separated according to Jesus.
According to McKnight he writes,
“A scribe asks Jesus about the essence of spiritual formation and Jesus gives him an old answer with a revolutionary twist: Love God and love others, and love God by following me (p. 13)”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:29-31
This is our greatest call as followers of Jesus Christ. We are to live this out in all of our relationships; marriage, family, co-workers, fellow brothers and sisters, and beyond. We will have the greatest opportunity to live out the greatest commandments in our marriage. In a sense it is our best training ground to grow strong in Christ as we learn to live out our loving (1 Cor 13) attitudes and actions in our marriages.
Be strong and courageous as God is our Good Shepherd who is faithful to complete what he began in your marriage.
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