The two new commandments

Good morning, church family!

Let's start off with a little humor today. A four-year-old boy was asked to return thanks before dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation. The boy began his prayer, thanking God for all his friends, naming them one by one. Then he thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, and Grandpa. Then he began to thank God for the food. He gave thanks for the turkey, the stuffing, the Christmas pudding, even the cranberry sauce. Then he paused, and everyone waited. After a long silence, the young boy looked up at his mother and asked, "If I thank God for the broccoli, won't He know that I'm lying?"

Ah, the honesty of children! Now, moving to the heart of our sermon today, we're going to look at the two new commandments Jesus gave us in the New Testament. 

In the book of Matthew, chapter 22, verses 37-40, Jesus gives us these new commandments: "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. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'"

The essence of these commandments is love - love for God and love for others. In 1 John 4:8, we learn that "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." So, when we love, we are fulfilling God's command and reflecting His nature. 

The Good Samaritan parable, found in Luke 10:25-37, is a practical example of what it means to "love your neighbor as yourself." A man was robbed, beaten, and left half-dead on the roadside. Two religious men passed by without offering assistance. But a Samaritan, considered an outcast by the Jews, showed compassion. He bandaged the man's wounds, took him to an inn, and paid for his care. This Samaritan displayed true neighborly love, showing kindness and compassion without expecting anything in return.

In conclusion, these two commandments Jesus gave us call for a complete orientation of our lives. We are to love God with every part of our being and love others as we love ourselves. These commandments are not merely about religious rituals but are about living a life of love in our everyday interactions with God and others.

Let's pray: "Father, help us to love you with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. May our lives reflect these commandments, not just in word, but also in deed. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen."

As you go out this week, remember to show love in all you do, for in doing so, you are fulfilling the commandments of Christ. God bless you all!