Pastor's Corner: Loving God - Loving one another more

At the beginning of each year, I like to remind our local church folks of why we exist as a church and what we're all about. I did that Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. Here are some excerpts from that message:

Mark 12:28-31 - 28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all? 29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.

Notice that Jesus closes this conversation with one extremely important comment: "There is no other commandment greater than these."

Matthew 22:36-40 - 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Notice that Jesus closes this conversation with another extremely important comment:

"On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." For the past 12, almost 13 years, GHAMA - Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association - has endeavored to take these verses to heart. We have focused in on developing our relationship with God in experiencing the God journey together. We have also deepened our relationships with one another by actually becoming friends through our involvement with our monthly meetings and the events that we host throughout the year.

Let's explore how what Jesus said in Mark 12:28-31 and Matthew 22:36-40 relate to "The Ten Commandments" in the Old Testament book of Exodus (chapter 20).

Notice again that Jesus closes these conversations with two extremely important comments:

"There is no other commandment greater than these" Mark 12:31.

"On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 22:40.

Now, let's look at "The Big Ten" - you know, "The Ten Commandments."

Notice the first four commandments have to do with our relationship with God:

1. "You shall have no other gods before Me" Exodus 20:3.

2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image... you shall not bow down to them nor serve them" Exodus 20:4a,5a.

3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain ... " Exodus 20:7a.

4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" Exodus 20:8.

"You shall have no - You shall not make - You shall not take ... ." Do you notice that the first three commandments are stated from a negative standpoint, or from a stance of avoidance? But when Jesus states the first commandment in the Scriptures above, He makes the statement positive, and from a stance of intentional positive action. OK, now back to "The Big Ten" - you know, "The Ten Commandments." Notice the last six have to do with our relationships with each other:

5.  "Honor your father and your mother ... " Exodus 20:12a.

6. "You shall not murder" Exodus 20:13.

7. "You shall not commit adultery" Exodus 20:14.

8. "You shall not steal" Exodus 20:15.

9. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" Exodus 20:16.

10. "You shall not covet ... " Exodus 20:17.

The phrase "You shall not" is used five times in these six commandments. Do you notice that the last five commandments are stated from a negative standpoint, or from a stance of avoidance? But when Jesus states the second commandment in the Scriptures above, He makes the statement positive, and from a stance of intentional positive action. For far too long followers of Jesus, Christians, have been known for what we don't believe in, what behaviors we do not participate in ... . No! No! No! Isn't it high time we started being recognized for what we do believe in and the behaviors we do participate in? As we start this new year of 2022, let's be recognized for loving God more and loving one another more. Amen!

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Written by the Rev. Edroy "Curt" Curtis, president of the Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association, chaplain of Northern Montana Health Care and lead pastor of Havre Assembly of God Church.