Long ago, a scribe, that is an intellectual who was an expert on the scriptures, asked Jesus, "What is the greatest commandment?"

It is not as easy as it sounds. There were something like 600 different commandments in Jewish tradition at that time. They ranged from small infractions to massive crimes.

What was the most important?

The scribe’s question can be our question as well. We wonder much the same as we debate among ourselves such issues as who will be saved or what is doctrinally pure or whether gay folk should be pastors.

What’s the key issue, Jesus?

And Jesus speaks to us just as surely as he spoke to that scribe long ago. He reminds the people of what is fundamentally and ultimately essential. Everything pales in comparison to this awesome command.

Everyone nods in agreement. It sounds like a wonderful idea and besides we’re all doing that already. But then Jesus goes on to explain how we love the Lord God.

Uh-oh.

All of a sudden we move from the theoretical into the practical. In an instant, we are transformed from just singing and praying our faith to living it out.

Uh-oh.