Rise and Follow: 30 Days in MarkSample

In God’s long history with his people, he had given them many commandments to follow. These covered all aspects of the community’s life together: basic morality, economics, land use, immigration, food, family, worship, and so on. Some of these laws sound crazy to us today, but the point was to set the Israelites apart as a holy nation as God worked through them to accomplish his plan of redemption.

When Jesus is asked which of these many laws is most important, he responds by quoting directly from Deuteronomy and Leviticus. The greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your being and to love your neighbor as yourself. All of the writings in the Law and the Prophets can be summed up in these two commands to love.

Certain people made a show of outwardly following many commandments, but they failed to truly love either God or their neighbors. In contrast, Jesus points out a poor widow who offered everything she had—just two copper coins—as an example of authentic love for God. In her love, she held nothing back. She didn’t give out of obligation, but devotion, trusting that her beloved God would provide for her needs. As you read today, consider what your love looks like in action, and ask yourself if it is love or something else that motivates you in your outward efforts to serve Christ.

Reflection Questions:

• How is God speaking to me through these verses?
• What does this set of verses teach me about God?
• What does this show me about the good news of Jesus?
• How can I apply what I read today?