Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Youth Life: Life focused on the Word of God

Luke 10:25-28

 

V. 27: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.”

 This passage is well known to us as it is a lesson Christ taught on Kingdom values.  Jesus replied to the expert of the law beginning with the question “what is written in the law, how do you read it?”  The expert replied the scripture passages of Deuteronomy 6:5 as well as Leviticus 19:18 on who to love and how to love.  It is taught to love God first and with that love to love others so that people will know who God is through that love.  In Jewish custom, this passage is known as V'ahavta and this prayer is right after the shema prayer “Hear O Israel the Lord is One”.  It is one of the most important prayers in Judaism and often recited, especially for a newborn child. 

 As we look at the theme of youth life, it is important to guide our lives to this instruction to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Only by giving all that we are to God, we are able to have the mind to be there to love others, whether if it is family, friends or even those we encounter from time to time.  We should ask ourselves the question: do we love God with all that we are?”  the seconds that we are breathing, are we dedicating our whole energy, time, and talents to God?  An average lifespan for a human being is around 75 years.  If our prayer life in the morning 15 minutes and 15 minutes in the evening everyday, it will only add up to approximately 6 months of the total 75 years.  That is not giving God love with all that we are.  Following today’s meditation passage is the parable of the good Samaritan.  It reminds us to understand that loving God enables us to love others.  Without being connected to God, we cannot give unconditional love to those around us.  God is Love.  Let us in our youth and even in old age introspect our own lives so that we can be molded in all that God wants us to be and dedicate our lives daily to Him.

PRAYER

Almighty Triune God forgive us our sins when we turn away from You.  Guide us to be closer to You so that we can love You more with all that we are and likewise love others around us as You love us.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“Talk about God can become dreary and lackluster if God isn’t in you.” – Billy Graham

 Rev. Jess M. George, Youth Chaplain, North East Region

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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