love God love people part 1

One of the scribes approached.  When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, "Which command is the most important of all?"  This is the most important,"  Jesus answered:  Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  "The second is:  Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other command greater than these."  Mark 12:28-31

If the bible could be summed up in 3 verses, this would be it.  No other verses in the whole bible speak to me on a more personal level than this.  You see friends, back in 2003, I hit rock bottom.  In a very short time I lost my wife, my kids, the dog, most all household possessions, all my money, my freedom, my pride, my dignity, and almost my will to live.
God kept speaking to me through this verse.  Enough so, that I tattooed it on my arm.  I believe that I had not put God first in my life.  There were other things I put first.  Namely my family.  Understand this my friends and listen closely.  God did not take away the marriage.  That is against His word.  However, God did allow me to be sifted as Peter was.  And as Job was.  I am a much stronger Christian because of that too.  Refined, molded, chiseled, a created warrior for Christ.
Friends, if you put ANYTHING before your relationship with God prepare for disaster.  Christ said this is the most important commandment for a reason.

We will address the love people next time.  To be continued...