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Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of m�agine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
the world.
Do you know someone
who might benefit
from our weekly email?
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The second greatest commandment...
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You shall love the Lord your God...
and your neighbor as yourself
[Luke 10:27].
I lived for a time as a young man in Burbank, within blocks of three major studios: Disney, Burbank, and KNBC studios. Every week, when thousands of studio employees concurrently received their paychecks, it was common to see long, serpentine lines of depositors fill neighborhood banks. One afternoon when I had waited impatiently in line at my bank for nearly an hour, I finally arrived at the counter to see a lovely young teller, a large button pinned to her blouse; it read, "Smile, I've been at the end of the line all day!"
Set this story aside for just a moment.
The foremost commandment, according to Jesus, is, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Mark 12:31). The two greatest commandments, therefore, feature a vertical component--"Love the Lord your God"--and an horizontal component--"Love your neighbor."
According to Matthew's account, Jesus added, "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:40). This is evident, for example, in the ten commandments: the first four commandments governed Israel's relationship with God; the second six commandments governed Israel's interpersonal relationships (Exodus 20:1-17).
Did you know...the quality of a man's relationship with his "neighbor," prescribed in the second greatest commandment, offers an honest assessment of the man's relationship with his God, prescribed in the foremost commandment (cf. 1 John 4:20). In fact, a woman's attitude toward her neighbor--defined by Jesus in the Parable of the Good Samaritan as anyone in need of our compassion, and who isn't?--is reflective of her own sense of God's attitude toward her. Kind of scary for some of us. But not you.
So...back to the teller with the button pinned to her blouse.
I will never forget that young teller. She forever altered the way I treat men and women in the marketplace. A man's true character, after all, is evident in his attitude toward those who, in his perception, can do "nothing" for him: a bank teller, a grocery clerk, a small child. Who else in your world? How then, is your relationship with your neighbor? And what does it say about your relationship with-- and your perception of-- God himself?
Do you know the name of your bank teller, your grocery clerk, your neighbor's child? What, in your perception, might these neighbors make up about you when you walk in their door?
How is it impossible to fulfill the second greatest commandment without first fulfilling the greatest commandment?
Further, is it really possible to honor the foremost commandment without honoring the second commandment?
What would it look like to start calling the busboy--the one who carries away your dirty lunch dishes--by name?
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Michael Fox
m�agine!
530/613.2774
P.O. Box 9144
Auburn, CA, USA 95604
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In addition to personal and professional coaching,
m�agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching,
employing its proprietary models: Values, Vision, Voice and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength.
Michael's books include Complete in Christ,
Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook, and Biblio�files.
Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details.
Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching.
On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities
to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees.
View our archives!
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