Friday, March 27, 2026
Bible in a Year: Psalms 120-121 | Galatians 3
Have you ever imagined yourself standing among the crowd surrounding Jesus as he taught? Maybe it’s easier to visualize because of modern-day TV series like The Chosen, which depict what it was like when Jesus walked from city to city, preaching in an open-forum style.
In Scripture, we read about how people approach Jesus with questions: some honest, some heartfelt, yet many loaded with hidden motives. The religious leaders try to trap him with debates about politics, theology, and tradition, all hoping to catch him in blasphemy or discredit his teaching.
But what amazes me when I read the Gospels is that Jesus never takes the bait. Instead, he turns every question into an invitation or an opening to teach the crowd something deeper.
Mark 12:29-31
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Like in these verses from Mark 12, when the teacher of the law asks which commandment matters most, Jesus doesn’t get bogged down in details or debate. He goes straight to the heart: Love God completely. Love people sincerely.
No loopholes, shortcuts, or technicalities.
Knowing what we’ve learned about Jewish religious leaders of the time, I’m a bit caught off guard by the teacher’s response in the following verses.
Mark 12:33
“And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
He agrees (v.32), and he gets it. He realizes that loving God and loving others matter more than rituals and sacrifices. And Jesus says, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” (v.34)
Not far. Meaning that Jesus also knew the religious leader had the right answer, good theology, and could we even go as far as to say he respected Jesus?
But understanding isn’t the same as surrender.
That hits home for me. How often do we come to God with questions that sound spiritual but hide our real motives? How often do we ask for clarity when we want comfort, or debate Scripture when what God is really inviting us to do is obey?
Jesus still meets us with patience and grace in those places. And if we continue listening with ears that seek understanding, he keeps turning us back to what matters most: wholehearted love for God, selfless love for others.
Faith isn’t about winning arguments or getting all the answers. It’s about living surrendered.
Today, Jesus isn’t looking for clever questions; he’s looking for a willing heart.
Questions:
What does it look like for me to love God with my whole heart, mind, and strength right now?
How am I loving my neighbors in practical ways?
Am I “not far” from obedience—or fully surrendered?
Next Steps:
Before praying or asking God for direction, pause and declare, “God, my answer is yes. What is your invitation?”
Focus daily on these two commands—loving God and loving people—before worrying about everything else.
Prayer:
Jesus, you see beyond my words into my heart. Thank you for meeting me with truth and grace, even when my motives are mixed. Teach me to love you with all that I am, not just in what I believe, but in how I live. Help me love others the way you love me. Move me from knowing the right answers to walking in real obedience. I love you, I trust you, and I worship you. Amen.
This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content for the Daily LivingItOut.