As much as I appreciate sarcasm today, there was a time that I operated with a much more literal mindset. My mom tells a story about a time that I, as a child, was incessantly asking the same question over and over, and finally she simply said, “Drop it!” So from my perspective, the logical thing to do was to of course drop the toy that I had in my hand and continue asking my question.
I had missed the point. This example represents a harmless consequence to missing the point, but throughout my life I’ve missed the point to the much more significant gestures and conversations.
This passage represents three examples in a row in which the religious leaders in Jesus’ day missed the point. Jesus spent so much time teaching about the Kingdom of God which he represented, you would think people would have caught on by this point. Rather than getting so hung up on insignificant questions, they only needed to recognize the answer was standing in front of them. We often wonder how they could have missed the point so badly that they didn’t even recognize the greatest commands.
But doesn’t this sound much like us today? Where is our focus? Have we truly proclaimed that Jesus is enough for us, or do we still seek all of the answers to insignificant questions? Scripture may not answer all of life’s questions, but it gives enough: We are loved, and we are to love.
May you learn to live without all the answers… in faith… And don’t miss the point…
May you walk as if you are loved and are called to love.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.