Meet the Colliers:
Bobby and Debby Collier met at the UCSC several years ago. Collegeside and the UCSC provided such an amazing foundation for us and what we learned there we continued taking with us as we began our family and serving at local congregations. We are continually amazed at how God is working at Collegeside through the generosity of the members, that allows the ministries to have success in bringing others to Christ.
Mark 12:29-31
“Jesus needs to be the main character of our story- He is the King of everything.”
This admonition was given to us Sunday by John Nichols. How is it that we ensure that Jesus is the main character in our story? I believe the answer to this is found in Mark 12:29-31. Jesus is confronted by a religious leader who poses the question: “What is the most important commandment?”
“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.” (NIV).
Of all of the commandments, which is the most important? I guess that is a fair question. There are many to remember, over 600 in the Old Testament. We think like this today, we like to cut to the chase. What’s the bottom line or what’s your best offer? I love Jesus’ response. It lays a foundation for our spiritual growth and understanding of our relationship with our Lord.
The Lord (Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit) are one. They are absolutely together having the same purpose, same goal; our redemption and salvation. When we love the Lord with all of our heart, it is an emotional feeling of gratitude and deep affection that draws us to Him.
To love with all your heart is to love with passion and unconditionally. It says I am all in.
To love with all your soul is to realize the spiritual and eternal aspect of our relationship with our Lord, It is loving with the deepest innermost part of ourselves. It transcends the here and now and brings us to a higher level of love.
To love with all your mind is to be intentional in loving. To know why you love . You have evidence of that love and understand its great power in this universe. Knowledge is power, especially if it's God's Word. Our story can only be defined by knowing His story.
To love with all your strength requires action. When we make Jesus the main character of our story, when we love Him with all our heart, our mind, our soul, it moves us into action of service for our Lord.
When Jesus is the King of our everything, we want to serve Him and others the way He serves us. Our relationship with God becomes less a list of rules, and more a life of service out of our love for Him. He is the one who gives our story a happy ending.
