Have you ever heard the expression, “it’s simple, just not easy”? My experience is that this is true for much of life, including our spiritual life. If you’re like me, you’ve thought about Christianity as being overly complicated, sometimes as overwhelming as other things you encounter. The fact is that it’s very simple, just not always easy.
Jesus Only Gave Us Three Things To Do
Jesus only gave us three things to do, represented in the Great Commandments and the Great Commission. Here they are:
Great Commandments
Mark 12:29-31 – Jesus said, “The first is this…You shall 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: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Great Commission
Matthew 29:18-20 – Jesus said to His disciples, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
That’s it. That’s what Jesus told us to do. As you can see, neither are complicated. Not only very specific, but He is direct in His command.
A Church Where It’s Really Worked
Saddleback Church, in Southern California, has a singular focus on what it refers to as “GC Squared”. At this thriving nondenominational Church, everything they do has something to do with the Great Commandments and/or the Great Commission. And if not related to one or the other, they don’t do it. My wife and I have visited there and seen that what they’ve accomplished with their singular focus is amazing. You can read about it in Reverend Rick Warren’s book, “Purpose Driven Church”.
How the World Could Be Different
What would this world be like if all Christians took to heart and really practiced?
- Love God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength
- Loved your neighbor as yourself
- Made disciples of all (which means teaching them to make disciples of all)
I’d argue that there wouldn’t be as much poverty in the world. Or hunger. Or shortage of water. There would be far fewer homeless. Everyone would have the clothes they need. Crime would be way down. Domestic abuse would be the rarity. There would be far fewer incarcerated. There would also be far fewer conflicts and wars worldwide.
It’s Unconscionable
Having recently gone on a mission trip to Haiti, it’s unconscionable to me how we allow others to live the way they do in this world. As it turns out, over half of the world’s population lives in the same poverty as those in Haiti. And we don’t have to leave our country to find those distressed, whether it be economically, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
What To Do
It may not be easy, but it’s simple. Have a personal relationship with God and share His love with others. From a practical standpoint, pray to God for Him to put someone on your heart who you can be helping, either an individual you know or through an organization. Then take baby steps…start out doing it once a month and then go from there.
Here’s the irony….you do these things and you’ll experience more peace, joy, and fulfillment than you ever imagined.
Please send me your comments at Mark@MarkJosephMinistries.com.
God Bless you on your journey!!!
Mark Joseph
