The Two Great Commandments

 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.

                The first and great commandment for us is to love our Lord God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. We can love God by keeping His commandments. If you love Me, keep My commandments - John 14:15. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight - 1 John 3:22. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him - 1 John 2:5.  

                God first loved us and demonstrated His love by giving His life for us. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also - 1 John 4:19-21.

             The second commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are the disciples of God if we love one another as Christ loved us. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another - John 13:34,35. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you - Matthew 5:44.                                                     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us love You with all our heart, mind and soul by keeping Your commandments. Help us to love our neighbors as ourselves. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.