“The RoseBouquet”

How the grapevine does get news around, yes? No sooner had the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees with His answer, then they decided to put their heads together, and trip Jesus up with their own word play. One of them, an expert in the Jewish law, tested Jesus with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”

Jesus replied without hesitation, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” But then He added that there was a second one just as important. “Love your neighbour as yourself.” He explained that all the laws and the messages from the prophets of the past hung exactly on these two points. In other words, if they kept these two commandments, they would in effect be keeping all the rest.

This reminds me of when I was a new leader in Pioneer Girls Clubs back in the 1970s. We were trying to teach a club of rowdy 12-13 year old girls manners and how to plan parties. Another Guide who had been to a finishing school when she was a teen, clarified all the problems with table rules, and all etiquette issues, by giving us this one rule which covered them all. “Always do and always say the kindest thing in the kindest way.” That little rule has come to my aid many times when I wasn’t sure what was appropriate.

I can see where these two commandments Jesus quoted from the vast 600 plus, that the Jewish people tried to keep, really took care of all those that were of God and important in God’s mind.

Simply worship God wholeheartedly and with all your being, and care for those in your life, no matter what their role, just as much as you care for and protect yourself.

PRAYER: I confess, Father, I have not always kept these two commandments in the forefront. I do see their great value as the sum and essence of Your commandments. Help me to worship You as fully and thoroughly as I can, and to love everyone else in my life, as much as I love myself and to know whom to prefer first.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. God tells me I am His own - does He ever tell you that? You can find out how by reading my novel, Ruthe’s Secret Roses