September 10, 2022 – Hebrews 8:12, The Funny Shape of Faith

“[Jesus] 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 greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself” -Matthew 22:37-39

“Love God with all of your heart, soul, and strength.” How do we do this? Because the answer is not clear-cut, we pray to and confide in God-and develop a relationship that brings us closer to the mystery than, say, any road map. And “love your neighbor?” This includes people in far-off places, but it begins in the very places we live, play, and work each day.”

(Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (p. 97). Kindle Edition.)

Are These “Written in Stone” or Ten Suggestions?

In the song “In the Stone” by Earth Wind and Fire, part of the first verse and the chorus goes something like:

I found that love provides the key, Unlocks the heart and souls of you and me — Love will learn to sing your song, yeah, Oh yeah, love is written in the stone

In the stone, you’ll find the meaning — You’re not standing tall
In the stone, the light is shining — Ever touching all

What we tend to forget about the Ten Commandments is that G-d gave us the written law out of love for G-d’s children, not out of punishment. G-d loves G-d’s creation and seeks to be in relationship with the same. And since G-d loves all of creation we are called to do the same – loving G-d, loving all people and loving the creation as well.

My friends, these instructions are not holy suggestions, they are rules to live our lives by – beginning in the love of G-d and sharing that same love with all people.

Let us pray,

Loving and compassionate Lord, I want to stop treating others out of a place of judgment. Your kingdom is a place of love – and we are to be instruments of that love. I accept the challenge to become the person you created me to be. Help and feed me. Amen.

Pastor Dave