“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Matthew 22:36

When the Pharisees decide to test Jesus by asking him which was the greatest commandment. Jesus responds in verse 37 stating, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind…. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Our whole Christian testimony rests on these two commandments. Paul explains in Corinthians that without love we are a mere resounding gong. The two commandments are two sides of the same coin. As the writer of 1 John 4:20 says, “For whoever does not love his brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” Today our world needs love, but what is love? It is not the fluffy Valentine variety, but a deep commitment to life and the well-being of the other.

To understand this love we need to ponder the following questions: What kind of world do we want to live in? What kind of world do we want our children and grandchildren to live in? What are our best hopes for the future of our world? And with all that is currently happening across and around the world, what do you pray for? Neither Superman nor the Avenger is coming to fix this world. Our Savior has given us this responsibility.

So today, choose to love God by putting him first (Ex. 20:3); by serving and worshipping him (Lk. 4:8) and by desiring him daily (Ps. 42:1), even more than life itself. Secondly choose to love your neighbor by making every effort to live in peace with everyone (Heb.12:14); by sharing with the poor (James 2:15-17) and by loving your enemy and praying for those who persecute you (Mt. 5:44). Then every day, make the same choice all over again.

As the love of most grows cold, God is calling us to love unconditionally and without limit. You and I are the only hope for this world, as we follow Christ’s example.