The Greatest Commandment

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39

The religious leaders loved putting Jesus to the test. They were hoping to trip Him up so they could find fault in Him. To test Jesus, one of the Pharisees asked Him. “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus gave the Pharisee more than he bargained for. Turns out, there are two equally important commandments, according to Jesus: Loving God with all your heart, soul and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself. 

Although loving God is the greatest commandment, it’s impossible to love God without the second one. How do we love God? By singing praises to Him? By spending time in the secret place with him? By being grateful? By telling God we love Him? These are all responses to God’s love for us. But loving God isn’t something we do for Him, it’s something He does for us. 

Loving God is allowing Him to be God in and through us. We love God by allowing Him access to our hearts so that He can change us into His image. We love God by giving Him access to our lives so that He can love others through us. The reason each one of us can boast of the love of God ourselves is because someone allowed God to love us through them.