Familiarity

Read Proverbs 11

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31

The man who asked Jesus the question that brought this profound response received something as familiar as his own name. As a devout Jew, in accordance with Deuteronomy 6:4-9, he had probably said those very words as he left his home that morning. He said them every day. They were a spiritual verbal habit, as ingrained as wiping his feet before entering the house. Now he heard them from Jesus as the central commandment from God. He had no trouble agreeing with Jesus, and he said so (Mark 12:32). He knew the right answer when he heard it, even though it was familiar.

Jesus’ response to the man’s agreement makes a stunning point: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). He was close because he knew; now he just had to go and do! He wasn’t in yet. But Jesus let him know he definitely had the right idea. We know Jesus’ words silenced the crowd; we don’t know if the man entered the kingdom or settled for being close. His predicament invites us to consider where we have settled: not far from the kingdom of God, or in it?

A WORD FOR TODAY

The greatest proverb—“Love God.”

Lord, I affirm my trust in you as the one who declares me a citizen of your kingdom by grace. Help me practice the love life of the kingdom today.