Daily Delight Devotional – Friday, July 5, 2024
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. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
– Matthew 22:37-39, NKJV
Have you ever wondered why there is so much emphasis on love? This is because the essence of our faith is captured in Jesus’ summary of God’s commandments: love for God and love for others – the greatest commandment. These are foundational to our relationship with God and our interactions with those around us.
To love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds is to prioritize Him above everything else in our lives. It means dedicating our thoughts, emotions, aspirations, resources, relationships, and will to Him, seeking to honour and obey Him in all we do. There is no room for sharing. It is tantamount to idolatry when such occurs.
Then Jesus elevates the importance of loving our neighbours, placing it alongside our love for God. Loving others as ourselves means caring for their well-being, showing compassion, and extending kindness and forgiveness. Paul in Galatians 5:14 said God’s law is fulfilled when we love our neighbour as ourselves. This means there is no point in loving God if we don’t love our neighbours. Both go hand in hand.
Love is not just the greatest of God’s commandments, it is the foundation of the commandments. Jesus teaches that all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. This means that every other commandment in Scripture is rooted in the principles of loving God and loving others. When we truly live out these commandments, we fulfill God’s will and reflect His character. The Apostle Paul says again in Romans 13:10, “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Our love for God and others is a reflection of God’s love for us. As we experience His love, we are empowered to love others selflessly and sacrificially.
Insight: Loving God and loving others – the greatest commandment – are the foundation of our faith.
Prayer: Lord, let my life be a testimony of Your love and grace in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 33-38