The Two Greatest Comandments

It is so easy to become so busy with what we need to do or get done. Sometimes I find myself at the point where I feel like I'm a hamster on a hamster wheel - where am I really going and what am I really accomplishing? I generally tended to be OK with my busy schedule because it was and is always filled with important and productive tasks that must be done - homework, class time, Student Missions Association work, and a plethora of errands sprinkled in between. But as a follower of Christ, this schedule is wrong; if not to the point of sinful, which I will explain.

Now, this busy schedule is not wrong to have because it hinders us from spending time with God by reading our Bible or spending time in our prayer closet, though these are helpful in our walk with the Lord. So often when I hear a speaker address the topic of our own personal busyness, he will condemn our overly packed schedule because it prevents us from spending adequate time with God. And this is absolutely true, I couldn't agree more. But I really feel it needs to be taken one step further. Our overly busy schedules are wrong because they make us too busy for the people around us. And people are what life is all about. When the Pharisees questioned Jesus as to what the greatest commandment in the Law was, He replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:36-40).

The Bible asks, How can you love God, who you have never seen yet not have love for your brother who you see? What an absolutely powerful verse! As Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, "For what you did to the least of these, you did unto me." When we become too busy for the people around us, we become too busy for Jesus. Ouch. That's uncomfortable to hear. But my schedule is filled with events and tasks that need to be accomplished so that I can more effectively build the Kingdom or things that will help me in my walk with God, you say. I ask you this: How can you truly build the Kingdom without building those around you? Is that not the greatest investment into which we can make - into someone else instead of investing our time into a task? Even if your schedule is full of things that are meant to build the Kingdom, if they hinder you from minstering to others, it's just not worth it. People are the greatest investment you can make.

Yes, people can be mean. People can be rude, insulting, offensive, dirty, and sometimes just evil. But no matter what condition they may be in - Jesus still loves them. He loves you no matter condition you may be in. He equally loves you on your worst day and your best day. We become too busy for Jesus when we pass Him on the street when He's begging for a dollar. For silver and gold you may not have, but you do have something. While in the supermarket, are we too busy to hear the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit in His prodding of us to speak life into the cashier? Thankfully, Jesus was never too busy for those around Him. Nor is He too busy for you. Instead, He poured Himself in His entirety into not just His disciples but also into the outer fringes of society - the prostitutes and tax collectors.

I pray that God would instill within us a passion for people. A love that cannot be quenched. A love for people to the degree that Jesus had - that He was willing to die on the cross while we were yet sinners. I pray that we would remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit. And lastly, I pray that we would remember that our daily schedules are simply tentative - our ultimate schedule comes from above.

My Drive to Georgia

So as I was driving on Sunday, I was in the middle of North Carolina when I had my heart checked. Wow what an experience. I had just finished listening to a devotional CD and turned on some praise music. It was a nice time to just be quiet and spend some time talking to the Lord. I had the car set on cruise control and the freeway was wide open; people don’t really travel on Sunday mornings. I looked to the side of the road and saw the speed limit sign; it said 65 mph. For whatever reason, despite the fact that I had it set on cruise control, I looked down to check my speed. I was doing roughly 72 – 73 mph, nothing that a trooper would pull you over for. That’s when the Holy Spirit had something to say. Here I had just been praying that God would use me to do great and mighty things for Him and His Kingdom and that I would be like King David – a man after God’s own heart – and He said, if you know something is wrong but you also know that if you do it you won’t get caught, would you still do it? Of course I said, “No Way!” Then He said, yet the law of land states that you are legally allowed to drive 65 mph and no more. Doing 66 mph would be breaking the law! You know in your heart that it is wrong but you also know that you won’t be penalized for going over 1 mph, over even up to 9 mph, yet you still do it.

Then I started to talk back, “But NO ONE does the speed limit! It won’t hurt going a few over! No one will even care!” And He said, yes, but I care. How can you expect to become a man after God’s own heart if you can’t even do something as simple as drive the speed limit? Is that not integrity? To know what is right in a situation, even when no one else knows or cares, and to still do it. For when you are faithful with the little things, I know you will be faithful with greater things. If you can’t even have integrity when you’re driving on the highway in a car you can control, how will you be faithful when the ‘sticky’ issues of life face you that require integrity? I fell under a very heavy conviction by the Holy Spirit and immediately repented and put my speedometer to the speed limit the rest of the trip. I have to say, it was extremely tough for me to do; even big 18-wheelers were passing me on the freeway as I did the speed limit! I got some pretty dirty looks and caused quite a few to get upset with my speed. But if that’s the price to pay for being a man of integrity on the road, then that’s what I’m willing to pay. Besides, I don’t have to answer to them; I answer to God for my actions.

2009

This New Year is going to be a year of change.
What was birthed in 2008 will begin to grow and produce in 2009.
I believe it will be a year of dreaming, yet tangible results.
I have talked with and heard many people over the past weeks who have expressed elation with the closing of 2008.
Many see 2008 as a year of pain, suffering, and loss.
However, 2008 was a year of new beginnings.
Just mull over that for a second.
If you think about that, what step or process is always the most difficult to overcome in a project or something large that is undertaken?
The beginning is always the most difficult step.
Why?
Getting started is always the toughest step because it requires a change from what we have come to acknowledge as routine.
And we are creatures of habit.
Anyway, just a thought on the past year and the new one we find ourselves in.

From here, I want to start sharing what I've been learning. So, here goes nothing.
This note references the book of Haggai.

Although the book of Haggai only contains two chapters and 38 verses, the Word of God is living and relevant to us today. If you haven't read this book for some time, or ever at all, I encourage you to do so.
Firstly what I noticed was that Haggai the Prophet gave the people of Israel - God's chosen people - a word of the Lord; it was to rebuild the Lord's Temple. After giving them this word, here's what followed:
"Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the Prophet, as the Lord their God has sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord. Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message unto the people, saying, 'I am with you' saith the Lord." (Haggai 1:12-13; KJV).
Notice how Haggai first gave the people the order of what they were supposed to do - to rebuild the Temple. It was only after they obeyed the Word of the Lord that the Lord assured them He was with them. When God tells us to do something, no matter what it may be, we should do it even if He doesn't guarantee He will be with us (which you know He's going to anyway). We should obey Him simply because we love Him and want to do what He says. Like the Bible says, "For obedience is better than sacrifice."

Thus, even if the road ahead is not guaranteed, we should obey nevertheless. I pray God grants us the strength to obey no matter the circumstances, to obey because that's what He wants; because "If you love me, you'll do what I say." - Jesus Christ

Secondly, although God does not dwell in earthly shelters, man does create a dwelling for Him. God is among us and within us. However, He tells His people to rebuild His temple. And God says why He tells them to rebuild, "Because while you've run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins. That's why. Because of your stinginess." (Haggai 2; Message).

He then tells them that because of this, that's why there's been a curse on the land and all that it produces. Yet, was the physical temple being rebuilt as important as the Israelites hearts returning to their God? I think not. What I've noticed all through the scriptures is a common theme with God: it's always a heart issue. For God looks beyond the outward appearance of a man and into the heart because the heart is from where all things come (Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks; guard your heart, for out of it flows the well spring of life.) God didn't really care about those busted up stones and mortar that used to be His temple; he cared about the hearts of His people. In this case, obedience is what God was looking for. He doesn't need a physical dwelling place here on Earth to be among men. He wanted their obedience more than anything. And I believe that if He truly has our hearts, we will willingly care for His house, whatever or wherever that may be.

Does God have our obedience? I venture to say that if He does, then He's already got our hearts.