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Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Sum of the Second Table of the Law

# 643 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:31 "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

The scribe had asked Jesus for the most important commandment of all and Jesus gives him a bonus answer as well. The second most important commandment is like the first in that it involves the same kind of love.

A love for others that is purposeful, with an understanding of why we love, who we love, and how we love. The who here is our neighbor and our neighbor is anyone with whom we come in contact.

The why we love is connected to who created our neighbor. God did, and if we say we love God, how can we not love that which He made in His image? 1Jo 4:20b says, “he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”

The “how we love,” is found throughout the pages of Scripture, but the crux of it all is to love selflessly. Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

These two commands are the sum of all commands and can be called the two tables of the Law. The first table dealing with the love of God, and the second table with the love of man.

If you want to really understand these two commands and get into their depth, I suggest that you open your Bible and read first John. Believe me, the point will be driven home, and the road to love can begin.

Father, help me to win my personal battles with self-ambition and to learn to esteem others better than myself.

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