Tag: love the Lord

GOAT

Matthew 22 & Mark 12

Devotion by Paula Kirkpatrick (Minnesota)

When you hear the term GOAT, what do you think of?  A furry four-legged animal with horns that has been known to butt humans or “faint?”  Or a term that has become familiar in the 21st century sports world—GOAT—Greatest of All Time. 

When I was a school librarian a few years ago, I added four “GOAT” books to the library.  They were all part of the “Sports Illustrated Kids: GOATS” series.  The students could check out “Olympic GOATS” and read about gymnast Simone Biles or swimmer Michael Phelps; “Football GOATS” and read about Tom Brady and Allan Page; “Basketball GOATS” and study the skills of Michael Jordan and LeBron James; or “Baseball GOATS” and read about famous players Sandy Koufax and Ted Williams.

We can speculate about the greatest sports figures, or the greatest actors in Hollywood, or the greatest leaders in world history.  But one cannot dispute the greatest commandment in the Bible.

“But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He 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 great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’”  (Matt. 22:34-40)

We can see an expansion of Jesus’ words in our corresponding reading from Mark 12: 28-32 when Jesus says in verse 29, “Hear O Israel!  The Lord our God is one Lord,” before his declaration of the two greatest commandments.  In Mark 12:31b, Jesus says, “There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

These two commandments are the “GOATS” of the Bible. 

Jesus’ answer to the lawyer, who was trying to test him, was quoted directly from the Law.  Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” and Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  

In our Matthew passage, verse 40, Jesus adds this statement.  “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

What does Jesus mean by that? 

The entirety of the Law and the prophecies found throughout Scripture, were given to humanity to encourage us to love and exalt our Creator and to love His creation, particularly mankind.  This should be our ultimate purpose in life.

Jesus shared a similar directive in the Sermon on the Mount when he said, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 7:12)

The Law regulated every facet of life in a Jewish family and Jewish hierarchy.  The voice of God’s prophets had instructed and corrected His people.  Yet the entirety of the Law and the Prophets meant essentially nothing if not established on these two simple commands, two greatest commands. Love God entirely.  Love others as you love yourself. 

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. We love, because He first loved us.”  (I John 4:7,11,19)

The GOATS of the world eventually change over time.  New athletes break sports records, Hollywood stars replace revered ones, and new world leaders accomplish historic milestones.

But the GOATS of the Scripture have never changed, will never change into eternity. 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Reflection Questions

  1. Who do you think are some GOATS in sports or movies?
  2. How much of what you do and believe is based on these two commandments?
  3. What can you change or improve in your life this week to better follow these commandments?
SGL.2025.OctoberFullPageDownload

Listen – and Act Accordingly

Deuteronomy 5-7

These 3 chapters continue to reiterate the importance of REMEMBERING. Moses is addressing the new generation of Israel, preparing their hearts to enter the long-awaited Promised Land. We read in chapter 5 the repeated Ten Commandments, and Moses’ encouragement to follow these laws that bring life and blessing, “that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.” The Israelites are repeatedly reminded throughout these chapters that these laws are meant to serve them for generations to come; Moses emphasizes over and over again the cruciality of ensuring that their children and their children’s children not forget the foundation provided to their ancestors via these laws. 

Chapter 6 is home to one of the most well-known prayers in the Bible, the Shema Yisrael, which has remained embedded in Jewish culture to this day. Ancient Jews combined Deuteronomy 6:4-5 with other Torah passages (Deut. 11:13-21; Num. 15:37-41), reciting the words every morning and every evening. This prayer became ingrained in Jewish tradition, and was widely practiced in the Second Temple Period. Jesus declared it the greatest commandment in the Torah in Mark 12:29-31. 

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:29-31

Many of us memorized these verses at a young age. What gives this prayer such immense significance? Well, to the Jews at the time (and through history), it is a pledge of allegiance to God, emphasizing three main ideas:

  • Monotheism: The Shema asserts that there is only one true God, distinguishing Israelite faith from the surrounding polytheistic religions of the ancient world. (Deut 6:4)
  • Covenantal Relationship: The Shema affirms Israel’s special relationship with God, requiring wholehearted love and devotion. (Deut 6:5)
  • Daily + Generational Remembrance: It is recited morning and evening, reinforcing a life centered on God’s commandments, and ensuring that it is passed down to future generations. (Deut 6:6-9)

These truths remain relevant to us today, and this prayer is a beautiful, concise way to remind ourselves what Moses stressed throughout these passages. 

Something interesting about the opening line of the Shema, “Hear, O Israel,” is that in Hebrew, “hear,” or “shema,” does not only mean to listen. It means to listen and then act accordingly. It is directly tied to action. And the word “love,” or “ahavah,” similarly means to act in love. It’s more than just a feeling; it’s active obedience and loyalty. It’s a call for the Israelites to be faithful to their covenant with Yahweh. We, too, have a covenant with Yahweh, a renewed covenant with new laws and a new Promised Land. But as Jesus clarified, this command remains true, and we must make the active decision to live out the Shema each and every day. 

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions:

  1. What are some practical ways you can incorporate Scripture into your daily life to ensure that you keep them on your heart, as to better remember and live by God’s Word?
  2. The Shema calls us to love God with everything we are. How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper love for Him in your daily life?
  3. Just as Israel was called to pass down God’s truths, we are called to disciple others. Who are you investing in spiritually? How can you be intentional about sharing your faith—whether with your family, friends, or community?
SGL.2025.MarchFullPageDownload
SGL.2025.CalendarBookletDownload

Be Careful

Old Testament: Joshua 23 & 24

Poetry: Psalm 51

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 11

Today’s Old Testament reading of Joshua 23 and 24 provides such good closure and an excellent way to wrap up the week. A farewell address from a man who had helped lead the Israelites into the promised land, and reminiscent of some of the things Moses said at the end of his life to the same people.

As I read Joshua 23 a phrase jumped out at me that was used several times. “Be careful!” As a mother, an occasional babysitter, a friend, neighbor, wife, and occupational therapist, this phrase is……one I try to avoid. Well, unless used more like Joshua. We’ve all said it, and chances are if we’ve survived this far, we’ve all had it said to us. It pops out before we even have the chance to think sometimes. What else would you say when seeing someone……dangling from the top of the climbing rainbow at Camp Mack, driving back to college, hiking with middle-aged directionally-challenged individuals in the Upper Peninsula, climbing up the bookcase while drinking from a bottle, using a walker to get around while trying to carry a cat, or pretty much any of the very exciting choices made by my “sensory seekers” at work.

The thing is, the phrase “be careful” is super abstract and subjective, and it just has very little meaning in most cases if left hanging in the air as it often is before…..kaboom/crash/oops. Given it is often said to children with little to no abstract reasoning capabilities, or in the case of many of my friends of all ages who come to see me at work, those who may not be emotionally or cognitively able to process that abstract language at the time…..it is far more useful with something concrete attached. You won’t hear it much where I work, though I assure you we witness many choices which are the opposite of careful. Instead, you will hear things like….“keep both hands on the monkey bars”, “push up from the chair first, then place your hand on the walker”, or a fun conversation I got to have recently, “Do you think that was too rough, too light, or just right?”…… “I agree. Bikes are for riding. The balls are for throwing.”

It seems as Joshua was saying farewell, he wanted the Israelites alerted to potential concerns, but he left them with excellent concrete directions. In verse 6 they are told to be careful, but at the same time instructed to know and obey the Book of the Law of Moses, to not associate with pagan nations, and to “hold fast” to the LORD.  In verse 11 they are cautioned again to “be careful”, and instructed to love the LORD, to avoid intermarrying with pagan nations, throw away pagan gods, and serve the LORD alone.  One would think the Israelites must have known a bit themselves by now that they kind of struggled with these things historically, and they were certainly still in reach of potential corruption and distraction.  Joshua’s farewell address to them is a beautiful balance of cautious reminders and powerful directives laying out the choice they were given.  Joshua chose for himself as stated in verse 15, and the people answered with their choice that day in verse 18….again in 21….and again in 24. We have the same choice, and we are blessed to have such tremendous access to the Bible for the concrete foundation on which to establish our worldview. We also have so many resources, commentaries, and Christians surrounding us with the freedom to seek clarity for the things we don’t understand or might need help getting tightened up from abstract to concrete.

So many rights could be wronged, if we all did what the Israelites said they would do….

“And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

(Joshua 23: 24)

-Jennifer Hall

Questions:

If you tend toward being a “nervous Nellie” sort, or perhaps are just struggling with worry and being careful today, how could you redirect some of your attention to what you should be doing and who you should be trusting and serving?

If you might benefit from a few more cautious reminders in life or perhaps have some contamination from the world to throw away today, what can you extract from Joshua to apply to your life and mind?

What can you do right now to serve and obey the LORD?

sglcalendar2024Download