Love takes precedent over law.

+++

Listen to my song “Radically Okay” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

+++

Mark 7:9

“How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!”

+++

The religious leaders had just observed some of Jesus’ followers violating purity rules by eating with unwashed hands.

So they questioned Jesus about why he allowed them to violate the tradition.

That’s when Jesus gave the answer above.

Laws and religious traditions have a needed place in molding our behavior but the commandment of God is first and foremost to love.

As Jesus said quite clearly elsewhere in scripture when asked what the greatest Commandment was, he said to love God with all your heart, soul and mind. And the second greatest was to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-39).

That means that love should always be the deciding factor in what we do or say.

Jesus was well aware of the hypocrisy of the self-righteous Pharisees who often strictly enforced rules but did little to lighten the load for those who were in need.

Love needs to be our top priority in not only what we do with our lives…but in each moment.

Since we are also called to do what is right and just…we must filter every conversation or action through the lens of love.

We must confront wrongdoing and injustice but always with non-violence and truth.

+++

Listen to the song of the day “Radically Okay” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!