Perfected Love

Matthew 22:35-40 – Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Our lives are filled with many goals, dreams, and desires. We think about losing more weight, starting a new hobby, saving more money, getting a promotion, etc. However, how often do we think about loving the Lord more?

What does it mean to love the Lord thy God with ALL your heart, soul, and mind?

When you have this type of love, it invokes all of your thoughts, emotions, time, energy, gifts, talents, and service. When you love someone, you think about them often; want to please them; give to them freely; and do whatever it takes to cultivate that love. You even learn about the things they like and please their heart. No amount of time is too long. You can’t give enough of yourself or resources. You should give that (and more) to the Lord.

The Lord should be above all things and people in your life. NOTHING should come before your love of God. He MUST be #1 at all costs by making everything else #2.

Matthew 10:37 – He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

What does it mean to love our neighbor as yourself?

We know how we like to be treated. We want mercy, grace, favors, help, support, and good service. We want people to care about us and help us when we need them. This is where you start…showing people the same mercy, grace, favors, help, support, and good service you want for yourself. See examples from Mark 10:45; John 13:1-16; Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8; Galatians 5:13; Philippians 2:1-4.

Who is our neighbor?

The original translated Greek word for neighbor is a friend, any other person – irrespective of nation or religion with whom we live or whom we chance to meet. I believe that would equate to EVERYONE.¹

We should love others just as we love ourselves. With both commandments, an inventory of our lives will prove if we have been loving God and others as we should.

I pray you will make loving God and loving your neighbor your most important priority in life.

John 14:15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1: Blue Letter Bible. “Dictionary and Word Search for Strong’s 4139”. Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2012. 5 Feb 2012. http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4139&t=KJV.

Photo courtesy of CreationSwap/hgrantham