Fields United Methodist Church

Thoughts Along the Way

Pastor Tom Joyce

July 21, 2021

“On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets.”

Matthew 22:40

Life can be complicated there is no doubt. Navigating healthcare, tax law, not to mention assembly-required furniture can challenge even the most adventuresome soul. We can tolerate situations such as these as long as they are not an everyday occurrence, yet even if they are not happening all the time, they weigh heavy upon our minds. So along comes Jesus, the Son of God, and sees people struggling to figure out life’s twists and turns. They turn to the church and they are handed 614 rules to live by plus the top ten, aptly named the Ten Commandments. I could imagine Jesus looking at this huge list and most importantly those challenged by trying to keep up with them and wondering, why; “why have we created roadblocks to the grace freely given with a list impossible to fulfill?”  Like the old song by “Five Man Electric Band,” Sign, sign, everywhere a sign…do this, don’t do that can’t you read the sign,” the people wondered how they could live out all the rules and what the signs along the way are commanding them to live every moment of every day. The church of Jesus Christ is not about abiding by a bunch of rules but rather to live out 2 very simple yet profound commandments that summarize all the law and prophets; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first commandment, and a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  In other words, Jesus calls us to live a life of grace witnessing our love of God in how we treat and love other people. Jesus does not intend to control your life, rather Jesus seeks for you the privilege of living in God’s grace, seeking the best for others as we have received the best from God.  In Jesus’ day the Pharisees wanted to control life, while Jesus sought to give life; not just life, but life in “abundance.” Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior means the opportunity to live out the love of God in all that you do and to live in the simplicity of these “Greatest” of commandments.  There is joy in the Lord, and that joy is living life to the fullest in full embrace of Jesus who calls you to love God and neighbor while promising to be with you “always, even to the end of the age.”