The Greatest of These Is Love

God never commands believers to do something we cannot do through His power working in us! That is true with all His commands, and is especially true of His commands to love Him with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. In giving this summary of God’s commandments Jesus said that all the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments. You and I cannot keep any of God’s commands unless these two commands are foremost on our minds and hearts. And the truth is that both are impossible to keep apart from the work of the Holy Spirit within those who are born again! The only way to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves is to set our minds and hearts on things above, where Jesus is, seated at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3:1-2). So long as you think only in terms of your life here on the earth and try by your own effort to do what God commands you to do it will be at best a “reluctant obedience” that neither pleases God nor brings joy to you. God desires so much more for His children! Those who know God’s love in Jesus Christ find JOY in obedience and it is that joy in serving the Lord that motivates our obedience from within. Loving your neighbor must, therefore, begin with loving God. Then, as you hear His command to love your neighbor, you will seek Him in prayer and you will study His Word to learn how to do what He commands and calls you to do, for His glory and for your joy in the Lord! Let’s do it!!!