"To love [God] with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

The Gospel of Mark | Mark 12:33 (TNIV)

I've been pondering this scripture for the last several days - what it means, how it applies to me, how I should change my attitudes, behaviors and relationships with God and others.

These two commandments are more difficult than a burnt offering. In a sense, when we try to live this way, our lives become burnt offerings - wholly and acceptable to God when we realize that the only way we can do this is to follow Jesus's example and accept his forgiveness, grace,and sacrifice.