Today is April 19.
 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit. 
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”   
  
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark chapter 12.  
 

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and 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.” 
 

Do you ever feel confused by what it means to be a God follower? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the demands of being a Christian? What am I to believe and what am I to do? Today’s reading is the whole teaching of Jesus and the Bible summed up. God is who he has revealed himself to be—one God existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Spirit. We are to love God with our whole being and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the whole teaching of scripture summed up.  
 
But we know that summing it up and living it out are two different things. Imagine for a moment that love is like a fire that can become very hot or, if unattended to, can become very cold. How warm or cool is your love for God? As you hear the passage again, ask God to blow fresh wind on your fire of love. 
  
Now think for a moment about people you are surrounded with in your life. Family, friends, colleagues or neighbors. How warm or cool is your love for these people God has placed around you? As you go through your day today, ask God to renew you with his love that his love may flow through you into one other person’s life today.  
  
Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   
 
Music:  "Fiery Love" - Vineyard Worship (YouTube)