The Jesus Creed

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your heart and with all your strength...love your neighbour as yourself."

~ Jesus

Scott McKnight calls this "the Jesus Creed."
This was/is Jesus' prime directive.
Yes, he came to seek and to save the lost.
Yes, came not to be served, but to serve.
Yes, he sends us to make disciples of all nations.

But this 2-fold command is the creed that directs all these other aspects of his life and ministry, and subsequently, our life and ministry.

There is a popular expression in the church, "What would Jesus do?"
One thing we know for sure is that Jesus repeated this "creed" every day, morning and night.
Part of Jesus' spiritual disciple would have been reciting the "Shema" (Deuteronomy 6:1-9) every day and night. And we know from the command that he added Leviticus 19:18 (The part about loving your neighbour as yourself.)

This is part of what formed Jesus' life and ministry.
And so we should allow it to shape our lives.

Say the creed as you get out of bed.
Say it as you get back into bed.
Say it as many times in between as you are reminded:
Say as part of your prayer before a meal.
Say it when you are exasperated with your kid or co-worker.
Say it when you are filled with joy.
Say it when you are wrought with worry.
Just say it.

Better yet, say it and live it!