GENUINE LOVE

 In the heart of the steampunk town of Steam Haven, Abigail found herself locked in a battle of wits with a stubborn block of wood. She had been tasked with carving a magnificent wooden cabinet to house the intricate steam clock her brother had meticulously crafted. The gears seemed to mock her as they turned and hummed. Every so often a puff of steam would release from the mechanism. Normally it was a comforting sound to her but today it grated. A noisy steam carriage belched it’s way passed the window, “that one could use a valve job,” she thought absently. Her fingers moved skillfully over the surface, chiseling away, but her mind was consumed by a question that had been bothering her for days.

She glanced at the nearby workbench, where a Bible lay open. Her brow furrowed in frustration as she read the passage that had been troubling her, Matthew 22:36-40. Jesus' words echoed in her mind, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" To which Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Abigail couldn't help but wonder why, if there were only these two commandments, the Israelite's had been given a set of ten commandments in the first place. Her confusion deepened with each passing day, making it hard to concentrate on her work.

Her mother, Sandy, a wise and caring woman, observed her daughter's struggle from across the room. Sensing Abigail's distress, she put down her own tools and walked over to her.

"Abigail, dear, I can see you're troubled," Sandy said gently, placing a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder.

Abigail sighed deeply, her eyes still fixed on the Bible. "Mother, I don't understand. Why did God give the Israelite's ten commandments if Jesus said there are only two that matter?"

Sandy smiled warmly and motioned for Abigail to sit beside her. "Let me explain it to you, my dear," she began. "When God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments, they were like children learning to know who God was. Just like when you were little, there was a rule that you had to brush your teeth. It was necessary at the time because you were too young to understand the health principles behind it."

Abigail nodded, listening intently.

"But as you grew older," Sandy continued, "you brushed your teeth not because Mom and Dad had a rule, but because you understood the importance of it for your health. It's the same with the Israelites. God expected them to grow past the rules and realize the character principles that God designed the world to operate under."

Abigail's eyes began to light up with understanding. "So, the commandments were like training wheels for them, and Jesus was teaching them to ride the bike without them."

Sandy chuckled softly and ruffled Abigail's hair. "Exactly, my clever girl."

Abigail was eager to learn more. "But what about the Pharisees? They seemed obsessed with rules."

Sandy nodded. "That's true. The Pharisees continued to make more and more rules without wanting to change their character. They found rule-making gave them power to force people to obey. But that's not what Jesus wanted. The first four commandments show our love for God, and the next six pertain to our love for mankind. Even today, people try to legalize moral behavior, but rules can't change a person's character."

“Jesus gave the best example when he had a young man question him. It is found in Matthew 19:16-21, Let’s look it up together and see what it says.” Abigail turned to the text in her bible where she read out loud, “And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest me thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, which? Jesus said, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shall not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother: and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Abigail looked thoughtful at the text she had just read. 

Sandy continued to explain, “Jesus knew that the young man had not allowed the commandments to change his character and when Jesus told him he would have to give up his riches the young man left sadly.”

Abigail leaned in, her eyes sparkling with newfound wisdom. "So, Jesus doesn't want enforced love; He wants our love to be a willing desire."

Sandy smiled proudly. "Exactly, my dear. He wants us to love Him and our fellow humans genuinely, not just because we have to. Rules can guide us, but they can't change our hearts."

Abigail hugged her mother tightly, gratitude filling her heart. "Thank you, Mom. I understand now."

Sandy returned the embrace, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. "You're welcome, Abigail. Now, with this newfound understanding, go and create something beautiful for that steam clock."

With renewed determination and a deeper understanding of love and character, Abigail returned to her workbench, her carving tools in hand. As the intricate Angel design on the cabinet took shape, the little spurts of steam that had just moments before irritated her were now setting the beat for the happy song in her heart, she marveled at how her new understanding of God's love and the importance of character had grown, much like the town of Steam Haven itself—embracing the principles that made it tick, not just the rules that governed it.