Amen, amen, and amen! Jesus is the Truth! We love the Truth. There is no peace in a lie, but in the truth we find great peace.
In today's reading we again find God's servant explaining the gospel of grace. We are given living examples of how we are to live, and examples of how Satan had deceived God's chosen ones so that they thought they were rich and increases with goods, but knew not they were miserable, wretched, poor, blind, and naked.
The most important question we must ask and answer was the subject of our reading. "As Christ was teaching the people, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" With breathless attention the large congregation awaited the answer.'"
Why is this so important to us today, and to the Jews in Christ's day? Because Satan has stolen a march on God's church. Many have been deceived as were the Jews. What shall I do to gain eternal life (salvation)? The answer is always the same, we need Jesus. Well then how do I get Jesus? He is calling to all of us. He wants the whole heart, not part of it. How do I give Him my heart? Love begets love. We will not love someone we do not know. Do I know Jesus? Do I trust Jesus with all I have and all I am? If not, then what must I do?
Listen to the Words of Jesus. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds our of the mouth of God. If we want physical life, we eat bread. If we want spiritual life (salvation), we must feed upon Jesus. The Word was made flesh. Therefore we go to the Word to know Jesus. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus. This is how we fall in love with Him. By beholding Him we are transformed in our very nature, we become partakers of His divine nature. In today's reading we find the truth.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus said, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."
We also find why it is that we love Him with the whole heart. And this we will do if we will spend time with Him in getting to know Him better. For love begets love. We love Him because He first loved us while we were yet sinners.
In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus gave a picture of Himself and His mission. Man had been deceived, bruised, robbed, and ruined by Satan, and left to perish; but the Saviour had compassion on our helpless condition. He left His glory, to come to our rescue. He found us ready to die, and He undertook our case. He healed our wounds. He covered us with His robe of righteousness. He opened to us a refuge of safety, and made complete provision for us at His own charges. He died to redeem us. Pointing to His own example, He says to His followers, "These things I command you, that ye love one another." "As I have loved you, that ye also love one another." John 15:17; 13:34.
But, in order to have this love for others, we must first love the Lord our God with all the heart.