Keeping It Simple

Love the LORD your God.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

God keeps it simple.

-Matthew 22:37-40

God makes things simple. Not always easy, but not complicated. Example:

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all you mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."    -Matthew 22:37-40

The Law and the Prophets was how Jewish people refered to their scriptures at the time. We call it the Old Testament. So according to Jesus, who is the one speaking here, everything written in the Old Testament is summed up in these two simple commandments. If we love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind and we love our neighbor as ourself we would never break the written Law.

Human nature wants a loophole. The Law was written to expound on what you want another to do for you. Just do that for them. Back in the day (or back on the farm) if someone's livestock escaped from their pasture do what you would want them to do for you. Catch the stray and take care of them until you can return the animal to your neighbor, even if you don't LIKE that neighbor. (Deuteronomy 22:1-3)

I don't personally have livestock or live in an area where I might come across any strays. But I do have neighbors. Once you have the Greater One living inside you, you're conscience will tell you what's the best thing to do. It may be spending half an hour just listening and encouraging someone when you would rather rush home and sit on your couch in the air conditioning. It feels good to listen and obey the Holy Spirit's nudges rather than ignore them and reason yourself out of obedience.

Not always easy, but always rewarding. Romans 13:10, Galatians 5:14