Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, I do love you. Help me show that love through a life of obedience that is focused on the things that you value as most important! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

One of the teachers of the law came to Jesus. He heard Jesus arguing with the Sadducees and the Pharisees. He saw that Jesus gave good answers to their questions. So he asked Jesus, "Which of the commands is most important?" Jesus answered, "The most important command is this: 'People of Israel, listen! The Lord our God is the only Lord. You must love the Lord your God. You must love him with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second most important command is this: 'You must love other people the same as you love yourself.' These two commands are the most important." The man answered, "That was a good answer, Teacher. You were right when you said these things. God is the only Lord, and there is no other God. And a person must love God with all his heart, all his mind, and all his strength. And a person must love other people the same as he loves himself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God." Jesus saw that the man answered him wisely. So Jesus said to the man, "You are close to the kingdom of God." And after that time, no person was brave enough to ask Jesus any more questions.

Related Scripture Readings

Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to remember the Good News I told you about. You received this message, and you continue strong in it. You are saved by this message. But you must continue believing the things I told you. If you don't do that, then you believed for nothing. I gave you the message that I received. I told you the most important things: that Christ died for our sins, like the Scriptures say; that Christ was buried and was raised to life on the third day, like the Scriptures say;

So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

"Listen, people of Israel! The Lord is our God. The Lord is one! You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Always remember these commands that I give you today. Be sure to teach them to your children. Talk about these commands when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road. Talk about them when you lie down and when you get up. {Write these commands and} tie them on your hands and wear them on your foreheads to help you remember {my teachings}. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.