Page 3 - 28 November 2025

THE REPORTER 28 NOVEMBER 2025 · PAGE 3

13:34-35). 'As I have loved with all your understanding for a good person someone
you...' and with all your strength, might possibly dare to die.
Jesus, out of love, gave and to love your neighbour But God demonstrates his
You can download the free app EDWJ via Play Store. They have absolutely everything for us; a s y o u r s e l f i s m o r e own love for us in this: while
included two versions of daily reading on the App, Contemporary we should give others important than all burnt we were still sinners, Christ
(New authors and a new format) and the Classic (The original Selwyn everything we have in love. offerings and sacrifices.' died for us. Since we have
Hughes devotionals): The way that we love others When Jesus saw that he had now been justified by his
is how we truly love the Lord, answered wisely, he said to blood, how much more shall
and, as we reciprocate in this him, 'You are not far from the we be saved from God's
way, we offer true worship to kingdom of God.' And from wrath through him! For if,
Him. then on no one dared ask while we were God's
There is no commandment
'Love the Lord your God with all your greater than these.' An action to take: Meditate him any more questions. enemies, we were reconciled
on Jesus' sacrificial love for to him through the death of
heart and with all your soul and with Matthew 16:24-2: Then you, even when you were far John 3:16: 'For God so his Son, how much more,
loved the world that He gave
all your mind and with all your Jesus said to his disciples, f r o m H i m . L e t H i s His one and only Son, that having been reconciled,
'Whoever wants to be my extravagant love inspire you whoever believes in Him shall we be saved through
strength.' (v30) Mark 12:29-31 d i s c i p l e m u s t d e n y to reach out to someone in shall not perish but have his life! Not only is this so,
themselves and take up their your life who you feel is far eternal life.' but we also boast in God
We are continuing to explore Journal His response as you cross and follow me. For from God. through our Lord Jesus
the famous verse of Mark bring each part of your life to whoever wants to save their A prayer to make: Lord, Romans 5:5-11: And hope Christ, through whom we
12:30, where we're told to Him. life will lose it, but whoever help me to love well. Put does not put us to shame, h a v e n o w r e c e i v e d
love the Lord with all our A prayer to make: Try a loses their life for me will find strength in my hands to lift because God's love has been reconciliation.
heart, soul, and mind. This breath prayer today. As you it. What good will it be for the weary, speed in my feet to poured out into our hearts John 13:34-35: 'A new
week we're looking at the inhale,say the name 'Lord someone to gain the whole run towards the broken, through the Holy Spirit, who command I give you: love
soul, and how our soul can Jesus', and as you exhale, world, yet forfeit their soul? vision in my eyes to see the has been given to us. You one another. As I have loved
love the Lord. Your soul is the say, 'have mercy on me a Or what can anyone give in forgotten, and compassion see, at just the right time, you, so you must love one
idea of your inner being and sinner.' Do that several exchange for their soul?' in my ears to hear the cries of when we were still powerless, another. By this everyone will
inner world - your will, your times, taking your time. the hurting. May my heart Christ died for the ungodly. know that you are my
mind, your decisions. In Isaiah 42:5: This is what burn with love for You and Very rarely will anyone die for disciples, if you love one
Greek, the word used here in Further study: God the LORD says - the Your love for others burn in a righteous person, though another.'
Mark comes from the root Mark 12.29-31: 'The most Creator of the heavens, who m e - a c t i v e , a l i v e ,
word, psyche, meaning important one,' answered stretches them out, who unstoppable. Amen.
'breath' or 'vital life force', it's Jesus, 'is this: "Hear, O spreads out the earth with all Mark 12:28-34: One of the
the thing that makes us So, Israel: the Lord our God, the that springs from it, who teachers of the law came and
to love God with all our soul Lord is one. Love the Lord gives breath to its people, heard them debating.
means loving Him with all your God with all your heart and life to those who walk on Noticing that Jesus had
the things that make us and with all your soul and John 15:13-14: 'Greater love given them a good answer,
unique - our emotions and with all your mind and with has no one than this: to lay he asked Him, 'Of all the
will and the way we think all your strength." The down one's life for one's commandments, which is
about things and view the second is this: "Love your friends. You are my friends if the most important?' 'The
world around us. Loving God neighbour as yourself." you do what I command.' most important one,'
with our soul means answered Jesus, 'is this:
choosing to trust Him and "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our
what He says about life, and God, the Lord is one. Love
about our lives in particular. the Lord your God with all
“'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
We often expect or assume your heart and with all your
that loving God will come all your soul and with all your mind and with all your soul and with all your mind
naturally to us, but that is not strength... Love your neighbour as yourself." There is and with all your strength."
always the case. Sometimes, no commandment greater than these.' (vv3O-31) The second is this: "Love
the Lord asks something Mark 12:28-34 your neighbour as yourself."
difficult of us. There is no commandment
There are two primary became an action of
Sometimes, it would be purposes for which every generosity, an extreme and greater than these.' 'Welt
easier to ignore Him or to Christian exists: to love God unparalleled sacrificial said, teacher,' the man
o u t r i g h t d i s o b e y . and to love others. It is as offering of Himself. Paul replied. 'You are right in
Sometimes, in the busyness simple as it gets. We are to explains in Romans: 'You saying that God is one and
and distractions of life, we love God and, with the same see, at just the right time, there is no other but him. To
just don't think of Him and love, love others. Whatever when we were still powerless, love him with all your heart,
what He might be wanting of season we find ourselves in - Christ died for the ungodly.
us. And it is in those Very rarely will anyone die for
moments, our souls - our good times or bad - we are a righteous person, though
minds, emotions, and will - commanded to love people for a good person someone
must choose to love God. we are naturally drawn to might possibly dare to die.
Loving God with our soul and those who are more But God demonstrates his
r e q u i r e s a c t i o n a n d difficult to love. own love for us in this: while
intentionality. It requires us There are many examples of we were still sinners, Christ
to believe He is who He says what love in action looks like, died for us' (Romans 5:6-8).
He is, and that we are who but the foundation of love's
He says we are. expression is found in John Jesus spoke of how His love
That word, psyche, is also 3, verse 16: 'For God so is to inspire our love for
used in Matthew 16:24-26, loved the world that he gave others: 'A new command I
give you: love one another.
where we're told that if we his one and only Son, that
lose our life for the Lord's whoever believes in him shall As I have loved you, so you
sake we will gain it. I love the not perish but have eternal must love one another.
w a y T h e M e s s a g e life.' God's love was so By this everyone will know
paraphrases it: 'Anyone who intense for us that it was that you are my disciples, if
intends to come with me more than an emotion; it you love one another’ (John
[Jesus] has to let me lead.
You're not in the driver's seat;
I am... Self-sacrifice is the
way, my way, to finding
yourself, your true self. What
kind of deal is it to get
everything you want but lose
yourself? What could you
ever trade your soul for?' If
we want to love God, we
must let Him lead, and this
will require sacrifice on our
part. But the good news is
that what we think costs us,
actually leads to us
becoming our full selves.
Only our God could make
such an exchange!
An action to take: Ask God
if there are things you haven't
let Him be in control of.