Create In Me a Clean Heart, O God; And Renew a Right Spirit Within Me - Part 1293

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-8)

As we began to examine in the last post, Jesus instructs us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and from that love relationship, we learn how to love one another. Oft times, I refer to this latter action as part of the process of becoming a flow through for Jesus -- His love in us bubbling over so that we can (and would willingly) reach out to others, as a city on a hill, proclaiming the wondrous and glorious gospel of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ.

If we think of the scribe in Mark 12, he obviously had intellect. In responding to Jesus' about which commandment is the first commandment of all, the scribe noted and repeated to Jesus, "Well, Master, Thou hast said the truth: for there is one God and there is none other but He." (Mark 12:32)

Although this introductory prelude (if you will) to these two greatest commandments on the new testament side confirms and wholly agrees with which was written in the old, many in the modern day religious culture today fail to understand that God is One, and, as the scribe so clearly stated, there is NONE other but He.

[I am referring to the false trinity teaching here whereby man-made religion relying on the traditions of men presents the doctrine of God in three persons, rather than God as One and that He -- Jesus who stood before the scribe -- is indeed God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16)]

The same "He that was in the world and the world was made by Him but the world knew Him not. He came unto His own but His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

Herein, the very question in and of itself is worthy of examination, as to where the first commandment actually begins. Obviously, Jesus noted that the scribe did not miss this first part -- "The first of all the commandments is -- Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is One Lord" because Jesus said, when He saw that the man had answered discreetly, "Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34)

Although Mark does not specifically respond to whether the scribe had changed in his heart, soul and strength too -- in this particular passage of scripture, there is sufficient scripture to ask ourselves what we would say if asked this very same question.

Which is the first and most important commandment of all? Is it (as most of us assume) loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? Or, instead, having the understanding that the first commandment is "the Lord our God is One Lord"? (Mark 12:28-29; Deuteronomy 6:4)

The same message that Jesus meant when He said, "I and My Father are One." (John 10:30)

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." (John 14:1-4)

Food for thought! Stand in the offering plate with Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)