Monday Devotional: How to Love Well (Mark 12:28-34)

Or, to love the right things in the right way

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall 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, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.(Mark 12:28-34).

I neglected to publish this one earlier. Please forgive me for publishing it out of sequence.

“Love” is a word we use in many different ways. We love our families. We love this or that movie. We would love to go out with friends next week. We fall in love. Love is all you need. Rarely do we ever consider what it actually means to love, or whether our loves might be disordered. Perhaps we love the wrong things. Perhaps we love in the wrong way. Jesus teaches and embodies the Jewish wisdom of loving God above all else, and loving our neighbors even as ourselves. There are better and worse ways to prioritize our loves, and Scripture guides us into a life of holy love.