Greater than Yourself

Do you remember this statement by Jesus in this part of The Chosen?

"Everyone has a much larger job than just their trade."

Wonderful, because this widens your view, and automatically makes you ask yourself, "So what is that job for me?"

Do you ever ask yourself that question?

Back to yesterday's Shema for a moment. Remember that God is the "Only One"? But the text goes on and the central theme is Love.

Loving God - with everything in you. All your heart, all your soul, all your strength.

In the New Testament, Jesus links loving your "neighbor" to this. Loving those around you as you love yourself.

Loving God could also be called the "vertical" love. And loving those around you the "horizontal" love. If you overlay that horizontal and vertical line, you will see the Cross.

Could it be that Jesus becomes visible in our lives when we love in this way?

And could it be that when we love in this way - as student, partner, employee, child, neighbor, volunteer, civil servant, manager, cleaner, musician, or accountant - we make the difference? That we rise above ourselves and make a difference where we are?

Could it be that this is the larger "job" Jesus is referring to?

Take the following questions to think about:

• What do you think of Jesus' statement, "Everyone has a much larger job than just their trade"?
• What does "loving" look like to you? Horizontally? Vertically? How do the two go together?
• What step can you take in this today?

Prayer

"Lord, I acknowledge You as the Only One. Help me to love as You Love. I reach out to You with all that I have. Help me Lord to pass on what I have received from You, so that those around me may also see Your Goodness. Lord, help me to live close to You. Amen."

P.S. This is the last day of this Reading Plan. We hope it has helped you as a follower of Jesus and that you have enjoyed it.

The materials in this Reading Plan come from Alongsiders, an European discipleship movement, and Jesus.net.

Of course, there is much more to discover! Do you want to take the next step? Do you have a heart for discipleship and do you want to know more about how to follow Jesus together with others? Visit our website.