Reflection
To hear and listen is to put into action or practice, what Jesus said to do and not to do.We come to Jesus and He gives us rest.
How does Jesus give us rest?
By putting into action or practice what He says.
So what is the crux of Jesus’ advice?
Love each other; drawing power to do so from His love for us.
The essence of love is how an action can benefit and seek the best for another person.
It is not some kind of sick love that let everyone climb all over you and treat you like a door-mat. Just like a parent will not spoil a child thinking that it is love. Love corrects, teach, guide and nurture.
Cf 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 Amplified Bible (AMP)
4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.
5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.
6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].
7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.
13 And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.
1 John 4:19 Amplified Bible (AMP)
19 We love, because [a]He first loved us.
Luke 8:19-21 Amplified Bible (AMP)
19 Then Jesus’ mother and His brothers came up toward Him, but they could not reach Him because of the crowd.(A) 20 And He was told, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, asking to see You.” 21 But He answered, “My mother and My brothers are these who listen to the word of God and do it!”
Cross references:
A. Luke 8:19 : Matt 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35 Footnotes: 1 John 4:19 Because God bestowed on humanity a free will, man is not forced to love Him, but rather consciously and freely chooses the response he makes to God’s love.
Luke 8:19-21 Amplified Bible (AMP)
19 Then Jesus’ mother and His brothers came up toward Him, but they could not reach Him because of the crowd.(A) 20 And He was told, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, asking to see You.” 21 But He answered, “My mother and My brothers are these who listen to the word of God and do it!”
Cross references:
A. Luke 8:19 : Matt 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35 Footnotes: 1 John 4:19 Because God bestowed on humanity a free will, man is not forced to love Him, but rather consciously and freely chooses the response he makes to God’s love.
Luke 6:46 Amplified Bible (AMP)
A Secure Foundation
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not practice what I tell you?
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