Scripture
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Matthew 22:37-39 “37Jesus 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.’”
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Matthew 22:34-40
Questions
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Why did Jesus feel a need to focus on these two Old Testament verses?
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What does it look like to love God?
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What does it look like to love one another?
Thoughts
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The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day were good at rules and regulations but poor at relationships. But for Jesus, the absolute priority was relationships. God had created Adam and Eve for fellowship with Himself as well as with each other. Sin broke that fellowship, both the vertical and horizontal relationships that God had in mind. Therefore God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and restore fellowship to those who believe and obey. In 2 Corinthians 5 the process is called reconciliation.
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Jesus communicated His priority of relationship when He gave the Great Commandment. He actually quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. His focus was on love, agape, the kind of love He has for us and that He wants us to have for Him and for each other. If love was Jesus’ priority, it should be ours as well.
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As we begin 50 Days of Purpose, our focus needs to be on what God’s word says is important. Love is at the top of the list.
Action Items
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Read 1 Corinthians 13 to consider what love looks like.
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Write down one thing you can do to show love to someone in the next 24 hours, and then do it.
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