Over two thousand years ago this conversation took place between Jesus and a teacher of the law.
"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28-34)
Everything we do as Christians should spring off of these two commandments. If it isn't in line with one of them, then is it really in line with serving God?
In the two thousand years that have passed since that conversation took place, a quick look at church history reveals it was greatly ignored.
So the question is, what will we do with it today?
To me one of the most haunting questions Jesus himself ever asked was this,
"However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8 NIV
