You’ve probably heard the expression, “it’s the simple things.” There’s a common principle called KISS, “Keep It Simple Stupid.” At least that’s how I learned it, though there are probably gentler ways of saying it. There are many things in life that are simple. Life works well when we keep it simple. But often we seem to complicate matters. Life can be messy because of times we miss the mark on keeping it simple.
We began a series of messages in mid-January called “simple (but not easy).” As we explore some simple words from the Bible we can recognize that while the concepts and words are simple, applying them to our lives is anything but easy.
Much of the time the complexity comes from our inability to keep our relationship with God and with others simple. We have a hard time simply trusting, following, and loving Jesus. We struggle to live simply and love others without injecting other priorities or drama.
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Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”.
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God decreed Ten Commandments in Exodus. Beyond that there were laws and regulations that described how the people of Israel were to live. Jesus summarized all of those into two: love God; love your neighbor. What if we could fulfill these two commands? What if we loved God fully and loved others without reservation?
The best way is to keep it simple. Live simply, without creating complications. Love fully, without holding back. Follow Jesus, by trusting and loving Him above all. Serve Him by loving others.
Simply living in an uneasy world,
Pastor John