the last commandment
"There is one thing more you must do." —Mark 10:21
If we love Jesus, we will obey Him (Jn 15:10). Therefore, a life of love is "a life of obedience" (see 1 Pt 1:2). As our lives on earth come to their conclusion, we reach the point that there is one thing more we must do. This last command is:
- a "must" (Mk 10:21),
- hard (Mk 10:23, 24),
- humanly impossible (Mk 10:27), and
- often includes persecution (Mk 10:30).
Because this is the devil's last chance to rob and enslave us, he will do everything he can to make our obedience to the Lord's last command as difficult as possible. We have prepared for obeying this last command by repeatedly asking Mary to pray for us "now and at the hour of our death."
The key to obeying the Lord's last command and all His commands is to rely on His grace and not on our strength. The same Lord Who has given us His humanly impossible commands will fill us with His love, which will impel us to obey His final command (2 Cor 5:14).
Live in grace and love so that you will live in obedience until the very end. The one "who holds out to the end...is the one who will see salvation" (Mt 24:13).
Prayer: Father, bring me up-to-date in obeying You.
Promise: "God's word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword." —Heb 4:12
Praise: Praise Jesus, "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (Jn 14:6), Who was obedient unto death!
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape Love on audio AV 58-1 or video V-58. Also CD 58-1 or DVD 58 are available for downloading or ordering at www.presentationministries.com.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 20, 2015
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