Love Boldly

ADVERBIAL FAITH

April 26, 2026

Love Boldly

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34, John 13:34-35

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [a]  30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [b]  31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [c] There is no commandment greater than these.”

We’ve heard this passage many times. Of all the Commandments, which is the most important? Read it again. It’s about love but a new commandment… Love the way Jesus loves. Now that is different because Christ’s love crosses boundaries, touches lepers, loves those who hate you, those the world tells us that some don’t matter and we can be selective.

This is not the same love we are talking about here. Yet, stretches that love. Jesus calls us to love our enemies. Hear the words in Luke 6:27-31:

Love for Enemies

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 

29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 

30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Did you hear?

Are you listening?

This is what it means to love boldly.

May God stretch our hearts and minds to be able to love with that kind of boldness and grace!

Amen.