Can You Relate?
Embracing & Nourishing the Relationships You Were Made For
September 7, 2014
Relationship at the Center of Our Lives
MORNING READINGS
Monday
Matthew 22:36-40
Tuesday
Romans 8:14-15
“Love of God and love of neighbor are the meaning of, and the critical norm
over, the whole law of God. In this verse Jesus performs a tour de force that
at once simplifies, deepens, and focuses the bible.” - Dale Bruner
“We are not commanded to love a distant Great Being – a ‘God’ – about
whom we only have intimations, as a ‘love God!’ demand could sound. We
are directed to ‘love the Lord your God’, the God who has already done great
saving things for his people and for the world in Israel, and now, supremely
in Jesus.” - Dale Bruner
Wednesday
Luke 10:25-37
“First the Ten Commandments, then Jesus, make it very clear that there are
two kinds of important relationships for human beings. One is a relationship
between human beings and God, and the other is a relationship between
human beings. The way we treat each other is a reflection of what we think
of him.” - Curtis Lundgren
Thursday
John 17:22-26
“(Jesus) opens the hearts of believers, like flowers to the sun, into an affectional life. We were made to love.” - Dale Bruner
Friday
Psalm 9:1-2, Colossians 3:12-17
“The purpose of living is the adoration of God and cherishing of human beings.” - Dale Bruner
MID-DAY OR EVENING REFLECTION
Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Leviticus 19:18
“When asked by an expert in the law where to begin with spiritual formation,
Jesus answered by giving the Jesus Creed. The Jesus Creed defines what spiritual
formation is … Jesus thereby amends the Shema of Judaism (Deuteronomy 6:4-9
by adding Leviticus 19:18, revealing that spiritual formation is about the love of
God and others.” - Scot McKnight
Recite the Jesus Creed each day … in the morning, mid-day, in the evening …
“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
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: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
There is no commandment greater than these.