Love the Lord!
[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Jesus always had interesting conversations and discussions with the Pharisees, scribes, teachers of the law and the Sadducees of his time. It is amazing how Israel went from worshipping the true God, to now raising and empowering to become even more important than God was. These classes of men practically controlled the way of life of the Jews at the time, laying down what the law required and harshly punishing anyone who dated to go against their controlling influence. This was fine, and maybe the people did not have a choice as they did not have a viable alternative. Then in stepped Jesus, and the power and influence of these classes of people were at risk. Jesus always had a huge crowd following Him wherever He went, and anytime He taught/preached. As it was then, so is it now. Be careful of people who want to impose their own will on you, contrary to the express will of God, as laid down in His Word.
The law of Moses, given by God, was there to regulate human conduct as well as interaction with God, until Jesus came. The law laid down the standard, but it had no help to render, in order to help its adherents with its demands. This was why it was impossible for anyone to gain justification from God simply by obeying the dictates of the law; the law reminded us of our inabilities, yet had no answer to the demands of the law. When Christ came, His life, death and resurrection added some things that the law did not have: grace and enablement. With all of the many laws that were given to Moses at the time, all have been distilled into two, as laid down in the verses above. We have now moved from acts that seek justification, to relationships and lifestyles that are enabled by love. We have now moved from labouring to earn God's approval solely by works under the law, to being helped by God and His grace to know, love, submit to and serve Him, as well as other people.
That is the enablement that the law just could not provide. I now have the help I need to love God, not first out of fear, but a deep heart of appreciation for all He has done and given to enable me come to Him. The old testament had frightening accounts of God, yet there were people who still walked with God. He is still the same God, but He has now given me access to the throne of grace, which was not really available under the law. I could not minister in the Holy of Holies, but the curtain of restrictions has now been torn I am able to have an experience and encounter with God, and love Him for who He is. Of course, when I am able to love God, I also get the power and enablement to love other people. I know where I am coming from, and what I have been forgiven, so it is easy to also love other people the same way. God never said it would be easy, which is why He does not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. He has done His bit; how would I respond? God's time of favour is here.
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