So rather than a long involved "part 2" post today (don't worry, that's coming soon) I have a question for you instead. This is a question that I'm curious to hear your answers to after having listened to a sermon related to this on Sunday. So here it is:
"What, in your opinion, is the most important thing that we are called to do?"
I'll give my answer in a bit, but I'm interested to see your responses first.
Love :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Aleya. We are called to Love (first and foremost our God and then those around us), everything else should fall into place after that.
ReplyDeleteI complete agree with the first two: Love.
ReplyDeleteHowever, just saying "love" is way to ambigious. I mean we say we "love" pizza, but I don't think that's what the answer to your question is.
"Love your neighbor as yourself."
"Love your enemies."
"Live one another."
As a married person, you have some idea of what this means. It means that you should be extending the same sort of self-sacrificial love that you give to your spouse to your enemies, and your neighbor, and your fellow Christ-followers.
It should be completely evident in how you spend your time, how you spend your money, where you live, what you talk about, what you live and die for.
I agree with what said above, but in my head what came to mind first was: Know Him. How can you truly love and obey someone you don't know or trust for that matter. To me knowing would involve many of the...tasks (that isn't the word I want but I can't think of it right now) we are also called to do- being in His Word, Prayer, Discipleship, Spiritual Disciplines- all ways that we can know Him. And out of knowing Him comes love that is deep and true and accepting of others despite their differences, aching when our brother aches and rejoicing when he rejoices. those are just thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAlso though....i think of Obeying Him, His Word, His commandments as being at the top. And now I'm thinking about how the question asks what the most important thing is to DO. not be...but do. its a great question. i'm curious to see where the pastor took this in the sermon you listened to and what your thoughts were.
ReplyDeleteReading the comments, love seems like the right and obvious answer. After all, that's what Jesus said was most important. But my initial response was worship. I think that love manifests itself in worship. And it's easier for me to recognize the necessity of worshiping God and to put my spirit in a posture of worship when I don't feel like it, than to love God when the feelings aren't there. I guess love is still the main goal, and worship is the gateway to get there. In worshiping, I see Who God is, and I'm able to love Him and to receive His love so I can then be filled with love for others. But it's an important step for me. Sometimes love seems to big a jump. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteDang it. I used the wrong to. I hate that. TOO big a jump. Come on, Robin.
ReplyDeleteThe Jews were called to DO a LOT of things. There are volumes filled with the stuff they are supposed to do (Summarized by the 10 Commandments). So a Pharisee tested Jesus and asked him the same question you just posed...
ReplyDelete"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depends all the Law and Prophets."
That is the most important thing we are called to do. How we do that is different for each person. God calls each of us to love Him in a unique way.