Who's Your Most Important Person to Reach?

S - "… Moses said, “The Lord your God will choose one of your own people to be a prophet, just as he chose me. Listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who refuses to listen to this prophet will be rooted out from among the people.” "Acts 3 TS

O -  This statement quoted in Acts 3 is recorded in Deuteronomy 18.  A prophet like Moses will be raised up.  There is no one in world history who can meet this qualifier except Jesus of Nazareth.  The instruction Moses gives is that we must do everything he tells us. Jesus tells us that there is a commandment above all other others; that all other Scriptures hang or depend on it and that all of them are fulfilled exclusively in it. He tells all to not judge another but to get and keep the beam out of your own eye. This prophet (like Moses) tells us that he is something greater than Abraham, Jonah, Solomon, any temple or any religious tradition or Sabbath.  He pinpointed only one qualifier which would confirm the identity of his actual followers.  “I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my followers.”

                

A -  Religion, including Christianity, always complicates the straight forward instruction of Jesus. It makes specific what he left general and makes general what he made specific. The items noted above are given to me and to the whole world, all 7.4 billion. The issue is: will I do everything he says to do? He wants me to concentrate on my response, not another's. Jesus thinks that the most important person for me reach and influence is me:). I do want to live out loud everything he says to do.

P - Lord,

You were amazing 2,000 years ago and are just as amazing today. I accept your specifics and commit to living them out loud, not just saying them out loud. I admit that while I am not the only person you'd like me to influence I am the one you always want me to start with. Thank you for loving us first, most and for refusing to change your mind. I love you back!

Steve