It's a new day. A dreary morning with no spectacular sunrise. But it's glorious morning when I view it as an opportunity to rise and glorify the Son with my day.

How do I glorify God? In this springtime of devotion, we are looking at growing closer to God and living for him. Today's verses are Mark 12:32-34.

Mark 12:32-34 NIV

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him 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.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Jesus has just had his kingly entry into Jerusalem. The next few days were filled with the Jewish leaders seething with jealousy and anger. Jesus was making divine statements, and people were listening. Mark 11:18 tells us that people were amazed by Jesus' teaching.

The leaders were trying to catch Jesus with his words, but Jesus obviously knew what they were up to with their line of questioning. They would regroup and come up with a new one. Mark then tells about the mic drop.

An unnamed Jewish teacher had been observing and absorbing Jesus' responses. He boldly asks Jesus about the commandments. Jesus replies. And this man responds with an affirmation of Jesus' words. Can you imagine telling Jesus that he's right? Matthew Henry's commentary enlightens us with the insight that the teacher affirmed Jesus to help bring credibility to Jesus' words and his authority. This man ties Jesus's simple truth in with the Old Testament reminders that obedience is better than sacrifice.

Okay, he does not use the word obedience. He reiterates that we are to love the only God with everything we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we love like this, we are obedient. This is how we are called to glorify the Lord in each gift of today.

Look at verse 34. Jesus knows this teacher's heart and saw his thoughtful response and gave him encouragement that he wasn't far from the kingdom. And then no one dared to ask another question. Fear, shame, awe. What is our response to the authority of Jesus? What to we need to lay at his lordship today?

Pray today about our obedience. How are we loving Jesus with our everything? How are we doing at loving our neighbors? Let's walk with open eyes for opportunities to love like Jesus.