Modeling Morality

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.” – Mark 12:30-31

Yesterday, we began a conversation talking about how to determine what is right and what is wrong. While the concept of “truth” seems to be constantly up for debate in society today, as followers of Jesus we can be confident in what is actually true because we have the Word of God.

With this in mind, there are three reasons why true morality only comes with God. We looked at the first reason yesterday, and we’re going to look at the other two right now.

The second reason is that there are moral virtues we should demonstrate. Jesus said that the moral virtues we should live by can be summed up in one word that should flow in two directions. The word is “love,” and it should flow vertically (we should love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and strength) and it should flow horizontally (we should love our neighbor as ourselves.)

When you follow those two commandments, you will find loyalty, honesty, love, generosity, and sacrifice. In other words, you will find what is good and what is right. And once you find these things, you will live a life that demonstrates godly morality.

The third reason is that there is a moral vision we should declare. If there is such a thing as right and wrong, only with God will people be held morally accountable for their actions. Only with God can we know that evil and wrong will be punished and goodness and righteousness will be rewarded.

Our God is a just God, and that is a truth we need to be willing to share with others. Jesus could come back any day now, and we need to be mindful of the opportunities we’re given to share the hope of the gospel with others and declare the truth to them.

Dear Lord, thank you that you give us absolute truth in your Word. Help me to not only live according to your truth but to model what it looks like to live a godly, moral life. In Jesus’ name, amen.