The other day I took the dog for a long walk. It was around 5p but still super sweaty outside. I didn’t mind, I knew it was hot when I left and was prepared to sweat. It was just me and him walking, so I wasn’t worried about how I was looking, or smelling. It was a nice walk, took about an hour and walked through some neighborhoods into which we don’t usually venture.
We’ve been in our house for sixteen years and there are still roads within walking distance that I haven’t explored. It’s interesting how there are places I know nothing about, immediately next to the place I’ve been living for that long.
It makes me think of that time somebody asked Jesus about what they ought to do to inherit eternal life, and they already knew the answer: love God with heart, soul, mind, strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Yet when they pressed Jesus as to the meaning of that phrase, there were applications they hadn’t thought of.
I could probably live in my neighborhood for sixteen more years and still uncover houses and streets I haven’t explored. The same is true for the way of Jesus. It’s simple to understand: love God and love people. But its application can take a life time to explore.