Matthew 22:37-39

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.”

Matthew 22:37-39

In the above verses, Jesus, speaking to a lawyer who asked Him which is the greatest commandment, went right to the heart of the matter.  He went to the Law, the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4): “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” The Jews knew this was the great commandment. And then Jesus says there is a second part, like the first.  We are to love our neighbor as ourselves.  And He wasn’t talking just about the person next door, but to everyone in our lives. 

I once heard a quote, “You only love God as much as the one you love the least!” You see, the way we treat others really is a barometer of our own hearts. Does my heart go out to others, wanting to serve them, considering their needs more important than mine? Or do I look just at myself? God is love; if He reigns in my life, that love will flow onto those around me.

Seeking always to walk in God’s love,

Pastor Rich Kikuchi