The Greatest Commandment: 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?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. Mark 12:28-32

Israel was to stay free from destructive spiritual practices and divided loyalties. God protects His people from influences that enslave, deceive, or destroy. These commands guard the heart of the community.

It reads in Exodus 22: 18–20 Easy: “You must not allow any woman to do evil magic. If she does magic, you must not let her live.“You must not allow anyone to have sexual relations with an animal. If this happens, that person must be killed. “Whoever makes a sacrifice to a false god should be destroyed. The Lord is the only one you should make sacrifices to.

Father God, keep our hearts faithful to You alone. Guard us from anything that pulls us toward harm, deception, or divided loyalties. Teach us to walk in Your truth, to honor Your name, and to live in a way that brings light and peace to our community. Strengthen us to choose what is good and to turn away from anything that leads us astray. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

“We kneel before the God who gave us Jesus, and sent the Holy Spirit to make us strong through every storm. In Him, we rise.”