It Starts With you

I was reflecting on one of my favorite stories from the New Testament this week, St. Matthew 22:36-39, and how this can solve the most deadly disease known, pride. But first I would like to share a few details about this story.

According to my studies, the group of people involved were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. At this time it was popular to wear Phylacteries, Amulets fastened on the forehead, or on the left arm. They were small strips of parchment inscribed with texts and enclosed in leather cases. This was according to the mosaic law. Whats becomes interesting is what is written on the phylacteries. “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deut. 6:5.

If you remember the story a Lawyer came and asked Jesus a question “tempting him”. “Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” The masters answer was genius and simple, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

For years the ruling class of the Jews had been trying to figure out which of all there rules were the greatest. And then in an instant it was shown to them that the greatest commandment had been written on there foreheads the entire time. What is a joke? Irony? Humiliation? No, it was only to try and teach the stubborn Jews at the time to forget there pride and worship there God that was right in front of them.

So what can we learn from this? The answer is simple in order to solve all of our problems it has to start with ourselves. If we learn to follow these two greatest commandments our many if not all of our problems would just simply vanish.

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"How Great Thou Art"

A Member of my new ward this week played a lovely rendition of “How Great Thou Art” on the cello this week in church. I decided to read the words as I listened to the music. I was really inspired by the words they helped me understand what it means to be truly great.

The first verse talks about the wonders in the universe. Have you ever had the opportunity to gaze into the heavens and see ALL the stars? I mean all of them, like go out away from the lights and the city and see the seemingly countless stars. His works are truly endless and the chorus to “How Great Thou Art” really says it perfectly “how great thou art”.

The Second verse talks about the beauties of the earth that we are so blessed to live on. Although smaller but they are nonetheless just as grand. Next time your out and have the chance take a look at the world and life around you.

The next verse took a different approach on the word great. So far great has been things like grand and amazing and Awe inspiring, you know grand. I like the first verse “And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in”. As I thought about this verse and what it means to me I was flooded with emotion, gratitude, love, Faith, etc. The God who gave us everything that we have, humbled himself more than any of us ever have, and gave his life for those who would at some point reject him in some way or another.

To finish up my thought, the last verse talks about his wondrous second coming. How great a day to finally meet our Savior and King in GREAT glory once again. Next time you have some quiet time amidst your hectic schedule running kids and whoever else around the wold take some time to ponder on the Savior and his great sacrifice and what it means to you.