Today is the 111th day of the year, the 3rd day of Passover. After Jesus, the Passover Lamb died on the cross, He arose after being in the grave 3 full days. This year marks the 12 years since HIS 2000th Birthday in 1999 and the Sons of GOD have been commissioned to bring forth the Kingdom of GOD to all the earth. How close is the Kingdom? Jesus provided us a clue in Mark 12:
28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
But after that no one dared question Him.
Jesus explicitly related that your proximity to the Kingdom of GOD is based on Love. You draw near to the Kingdom as you walk in Love. Clearly, the Kingdom of GOD is far from those who do not walk in Love.
A scribe is a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law; added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope. Jesus expounded on the Kingdom of GOD with an audience who knew The LAW and taught The LAW. His response was not a casual generality but met all legal tests that a “lawyer” might challenge.
Paul understood the Law and understood what Jesus spoke of in the above passage thus he penned 1st Corinthians Chapter 13. the chapter on Love, by the Holy Spirit. Earlier in the letter, he brings up the topic of the married and unmarried status:
7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none;
Paul was not telling men to act like they were single thus giving them a license to pursue other relationships. He was directing us to keep our focus on the things of the LORD and keep it simple. An unmarried person has less worldly issues than that of a married person. Couples deal with complexities that single people don’t. As one translation puts it- I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple–in marriage.
Don’t be a slave to men, lenders, and “stuff”. Travel light and be ready for what Our Heavenly Father has in store!