Mark 12:28-34 Not far from the kingdom
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 26, 2018, Mark 12:28-34
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Then one of the scribes came near and heard the Sadducees arguing with one another. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of them all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Then the scribe told him, “Well said, Teacher! You have told the truth that ‘God is one, and there is no other besides him.’ To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw how wisely the man answered, he told him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one dared to ask him another question.
(Understanding the Text / Application) Jesus is now questioned one last time, but this time not as a test. One of the scribes had been impressed with the way Jesus had answered the skeptics who were challenging. This is why we should always be aware that there are others around us listening even as we discuss and/or argue with people who we know are not sincere. These others may be searching for spiritual answers and the attitude and competence with which we answer questions may affect their ability to trust any answers about God that we provide. This scribe asked a question that he knew the answer for but that many of his peers would not have provided. He asked which commandment was the most important of all.
The scribe asked for only one commandment, but Jesus provided the most important and the second most important. The scribe feels comfortable finally speaking with someone who understands and enlarges on what Jesus has said by saying that loving God with every part of our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves is more important than any offerings or sacrifices that we make for God. Jesus sees that this scribe is sincere and tells him that he is close to the kingdom of God.
This interaction demonstrates that there were sincere believers among the scribes and Pharisees who did not agree with all that the majority said or did. Instead, they studied the scriptures for themselves in order to know God and to be approved of by God. This scribe contrasts sharply with the Sadducees who Jesus rebuked for not knowing the scriptures or the power of God. It is interesting that Jesus does not commend the scribe for knowing the scriptures. Instead, Jesus tells him that he is getting close to the way reality is in heaven. Our lack of knowledge can cause us to not understand and have wrong beliefs; however, knowing facts and comprehending the scriptures is not the end goal. The end goal is to become part of the kingdom of heaven. That was the end of the questions.
(Revelation of God) The message of this passage is simple enough that any child could understand, yet deep enough that we can barely plumb its depths. Jesus said at one point that we must become like little children to enter heaven. I think maybe in a way, that is because God is childlike in the simplicity of His love. Sometimes, we make life too complicated when all we really need to remember is to love God and love others, just as a child loves, just as Jesus loved us and loves us still and will always love us. In the end, if we follow these two basic rules, we will be like God in the right way.
(Prayer) Teach me to love. Thank You that You love me, and that You do not allow my cynicism to affect Your love for me. Show me the wonders of Your love and let me reflect those wonders to others.