Illuminate: A 21-Day JourneySample

Day 21: The 2nd Great Commandment

After all is said and done, Jesus said there are only two things that matter. These two things are especially true as we hope to live illuminated lives that illuminate the way for others as well. Take a second and read Mark 12:28–34 before reading the reflection. As you read the passage, focus on what Jesus says about the most important commandments.

Reflection

We’ve learned so far that an illuminated life takes faith, commitment, love, and passion. We’ve seen examples of illuminated lives in the Scriptures. We’ve uncovered the source of our illumination. And we’ve looked at how we can go about bringing the light to others. As we close, Jesus’s words here in Mark 12 ring especially true. We can do everything we’ve talked about over the last 21 days, but if we miss these two critical pieces, it’s all meaningless. At the end of the day, we must love God with our whole being, and we must love our neighbors as ourselves. If we can do these two things, the rest will be a lot easier.

• Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? If not, why?
• What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?
• How can doing these two things help you live illuminated?