Week 10: Love over Sacrifice

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

*Sunday: Numbers 2:1-3:51; Mark 11:27-12:17; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 10:24-25
*Monday: Numbers 4:1-5:31; Mark 12:18-37; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 10:26
*Tuesday: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28
*Wednesday: Numbers 8:1-9:23; Mark 13:14-37; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 10:29-30
*Thursday: Numbers 10:1-11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32
*Friday: Numbers 11:24-13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3
*Saturday: Numbers 14:1-15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4

Our S.O.A.P. for this week is from Marc 12:32-34

Scripture: Marc 12:32-34
32 The teacher of religious law replied, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbors as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law." 34 Realizing this man's understanding, Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God."

Observation:
Usually, Jesus is in an argument with Pharisees or teachers of religious law. In this passage, however, we finally meet a Jewish teacher of religious law who understands the meaning of the things Jesus is saying. This man understood that the Jewish law is not all about bringing sacrifices for atonement of sin. He understood that at the core, the law is all about loving God and loving your fellow brother and sister.

Jesus tells this man: "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." Two things come to mind when I try to interpret what Jesus means with this. It could be that Jesus meant that this man is very close to understanding God's perfect intention for mankind. He is very close to understanding God's heart, and the reason He gave us his word.

A more obvious explanation is that this man has almost "entered the Kingdom of God". The one thing he still needs to do is to believe in Jesus as his Savior. Once he does accept Jesus, he will enter the Kingdom of God. Personally, I believe that after Jesus' death and resurrection, this man did become a believer and did enter into God's Kingdom.

Application:
The most important application for us is to realize that God's Kingdom does not consist of bringing (personal) sacrifices, but that it consists of loving God, and loving our neighbor like we love ourselves. Too many times, we think we need to bring sacrifices in terms of monetary giving, giving of time, volunteering, doing good deeds, and so on. Yes, these things are important, and we should continue to do them, but at the very core, they should all be about loving others and loving God. If that is our attention, we are living God's intention for mankind, and we are building up His Kingdom.

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for explaining to us the true meaning of the law, and the true meaning of God's Kingdom. Help us to live out this principle of loving you and loving others in our daily lives. In Your Name. Amen.

Have a blessed week.

In Him,

Dick