Love God and Love People
by Pastor Ken
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”
When asked what the most important commandment is, Jesus replies that the most important commandment is to love God and the second is to love your neighbors.
In both statements, the word “love” in the original Greek text is “agape,” which is defined as “spiritual, selfless love in its highest form.” In other words, it is the degree of love God has for us.
You and I do not possess this kind of love on our own. The only way we can be able to love God and others with agape love is to accept Jesus as our Savior and let God fill us with His love. This is loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
Accepting Jesus as your Savior loves God back by humbly giving your life to Him in faithful obedience. In doing so, the natural response for you will be to share that agape love with others. This is loving your neighbor as Jesus loved you.
So take some time today to think about what it means to love Jesus with all your heart, soul, and mind. Let the unconditional sweet love He offers wash over you and onto others as well.
Reflection
How can I really love God with everything? How does my love for God encompass everything I have: my spouse, my children, my friends, my home, my pets, my clothing, my tools and cell phones, my music and movies and computers and time?
Prayer
Dear Jesus, Thank You for loving me so much. I love You, and ask that Your overflowing love may also reach all the people I encounter today for Your glory. In Your dear name I pray, Amen.
