I just read Killing Jesus by Bill O’Reilly. I found it to be an easy read and very interesting and I was pleasantly surprised that it was an accurate portrayal of the life and times when Jesus walked the earth.
It is more of a historical account of the life of Jesus under the tough regimes of the Romans emperors, King Herod, and the Pharisees. I was afraid the book would merely promote the Roman Catholic version of things since both authors are Roman Catholics, but it didn’t – (Bravo!)
As I read the book I was reminded of how evil the rulers of that day were and how depraved society was under their control. The many lies and corruption of the Obama administration hardly compare to those who routinely burned and boiled people alive, beheaded them, and crucified them. (See you have something to be thankful for this morning!)
The Pharisees codified 613 Mosaic laws. They asked Jesus which one was the most important and He gave them one that wasn’t in their law books, “‘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.’ . . . ”
Then Jesus stated: “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
The Bible says of itself that it is living and sharper than any two edged sword. I take that to mean that God communicates to us through His Bible and therefore we need to listen! Carefully!
After I’d given my testimony on the prison yard the other day a very tough looking inmate came up to me. He was about 6’4”, had tattoos all over his body, and a mean expression in his eyes. He told me that he’d tried to read the Bible but it didn’t “do anything for him”. He didn’t understand it and nothing leaped out at him.
I pulled out one of our Behind the Walls tracts and told him that I’ve found that if I try to read the Bible like a novel or text book, it doesn’t get it done for me either. I read until I find something meaningful, and then I stop and think about what I’ve read for a while to allow time for God to bring a better understanding to my mind.
I told him that I believe that it is at those times that God is conversing with me.
I asked him if he could read and he said, “Yes”.
I said, “Good, now read this verse aloud and God will give you a first-hand demonstration of just how easy it is to do and how great it works”. – So he read it out loud. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Then I asked him to stop and think about it. In a minute I asked him what that verse meant to him. He said, “It means everyone has sinned.” I asked if he knew that sinning was breaking God’s laws, and he did, so we moved to the next verse.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Again I asked him to just stop and think about that for a moment. Then I asked, “Now what does that mean to you?” After a moment he looked at me and laughed and said, “It means if I break God’s laws I’ll die – I’ll be executed, but Christ will give me eternal life”. I asked him if he knew what “eternal life” meant, and he responded, “It means I’ll live forever”.
I went through the entire plan of salvation with him in like manner. When we were finished I asked if he wanted me to lead him in prayer for God to save him so he could have eternal life; he did and he accepted Christ as His Savior right there on that prison yard. It was interesting to see him sign his tract with his name and spiritual birthday, because he had a tattoo of a pentagram, (indicating he was a satan worshipper) on his hand.
So I tell you that to encourage you to read the Bible in like manner. I think it would be a great start this morning to begin with the verses that Jesus stated were the most important laws in the entire Bible.
“‘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.”
Selah . . . Stop, rest, meditate. What do these verses mean? What is God telling us with this vital message? Take your time and think about it – This is IMPORTANT! (Far more important than anything else you have planned for this day.)
Remember God is talking to you . . . Directly! Clear your mind of any and all distractions. What is God telling you to do today concerning this verse? Love my God with ALL my mind; love with ALL my heart; love with ALL my soul . . . Love my neighbor in like
fashion . . .
This reminds me of the following song:
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone.
Lord, we don’t need another mountain,
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross,
Enough to last till the end of time.
Lord, we don’t need another meadow
There are cornfields and wheat fields enough to grow
There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine
Oh listen, lord, if you want to know.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No, not just for some but for everyone.
No, not just for some, oh, but just for everyone.
Gal.5:14
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
November 13, 2013 – Click here to listen