What does it mean to be close to God’s kingdom but still fall short? This was the haunting dilemma Jesus posed to a man who correctly identified the greatest commandments – to love God and neighbor – yet lacked a vital piece.
Today we will explore this dilemma and seek to avoid the tragedy of being near to God’s kingdom but still outside of it. We will discover that entering God’s kingdom requires total devotion to Christ, who alone enables us to fulfill the greatest commandments.
- Loving God is the greatest commandment. This requires having a personal relationship with the one true God revealed in Scripture.
- We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This means giving Him our full devotion in every area of life.
- Loving others is the second greatest commandment. We show our love for God by how we love and serve those around us, even neighbors who are different than us.
- The man was missing something – he did not yet realize Jesus is the Messiah, the fulfillment of Scripture. Knowing Christ is essential for obeying the greatest commandments.
As we conclude our time in God’s word, let us reflect – where do we stand in relation to God’s kingdom? Have we wholly submitted to King Jesus? Are we loving Him with absolute devotion? Do our lives overflow with Christlike love and service to others? If not, turn to Christ today.
His sacrifice and Spirit alone empower us to enter God’s kingdom and live out the greatest commandments. Trust in Him and you will be not almost, but fully part of God’s eternal kingdom.