The Greatest Commandment
“35 One of the Pharisees, an expert in the law, asked Jesus a question to test Him. 36 ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ 37 Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’” Matthew 22:35-40.
This is such a clear and vitally important summary of what God expects of us all in life: Love God and love others as yourself. But there are a few things that are really important to say about this statement, in my humble opinion.
To Love God is to love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This tells me that my love of God better show up in everything I think, in everything I decision I make, and in everything I say. Everything! I can’t just casually love God while continuing to live life pretty much the way I want to live life. I can’t just turn on my love of God when I feel like it, or when I need God. I have to love God completely, in my hearts, my soul, and my mind.
I also have to love others as I love myself, which is known as the Golden Rule. You have to think about the Golden Rule because it is a deep kind of love, a very deep love. All people matter, in other words, and I have to love all people deeply, just as I love myself deeply.
But Jesus changed the Golden Rule when He gave us a new Love Command. Jesus said, “34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” John 13:34-35. We must now love others not just I love myself, but I must love others just as Jesus loves us. WOW!
Take time today in prayer and ask the Lord to show You His love and pray that you will love others with this love of Jesus.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
Jesus said, “27 But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; 28 bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.[e] Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” Luke 6:27-36.
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