Morning Devotional
September  6, 2005
"Labor Day, 2005"      
    by Don Emmitte

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the discussion. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: `Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31 NLT).

 

A teacher of the Law, who saw Jesus easily answer tough questions by Pharisees and Sadducees decided to ask him a question: What was the most important of the 613 commands in the Scriptures? Could Jesus bring everything in the Law and the Prophets under one tent? Jesus explained that love for both God and people, not one of the other, was the attitude and lifestyle that pleased God above all.

 

I hope this holiday finds you resting and recharging your energy levels for the rest of the year. As you rest today, let me encourage you to think about an important question: What motivates you to give limited time and energy to lead God's people, even though your life often involves sacrifice, problems, and unpredictable results?

 

The Lord's two great commands show that what should drive everything in our life is the engine of love. Since love is God's overarching command, if we try to live and work from some other motive like guilt or ego, we will probably sputter out. Jesus calls us to love God in a way that sweeps up every dimension of our being - heart, soul, mind, and strength. Nothing is left out. Every facet of who we are is called forth to love the one that is love itself. Not only is our every part to be engaged in the love of God, but also every part is to be wholly engaged. Living for the Lord is the inevitable overflow of such all-consuming delight in God, and motivation the natural byproduct.

 

Love for people is likewise an indomitable motivation. All around us we see people who, without Christ, will die in their sins; we cannot live merely for our own convenience. We see people hurting, hungry, and with hearts of concern we long to help. Most motivation problems are love problems. If we feel out of gas, we should ask ourselves whether we are out of love for God and people — as hard as that is to admit! Scientists are trying to engineer a fusion engine, for it would use a nearly limitless fuel: hydrogen and oxygen (water!). God has already designed a fusion engine for the believer’s soul, and its fuel is the Christian's most readily available resource: love.

 

Happy Labor Day! Enjoy your day of rest and relaxation! Refuel with the love of God in the depth of your heart and soul.