"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matt. 22:36-40.
Jesus reveals to us that the two greatest commandments are based on 'love'. Love is power and acts of kindness are its fruit. You cannot love without giving. The Bible tells us in 1 Cor.13 that without love we are nothing and gain nothing.
Our greatest purpose in life should then be to:
1) Love God. We grow to love God more when we declare it as our intent and main purpose in life. God tells us how to love Him, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deut. 6:5. Because love has many languages, God tells us how to love Him and what He calls loving Him - "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." 1 John 5:3. Love God daily by praying, worshipping, and living your life according to His word and His values (obedience). "If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15.
2) Love others. This again is intentional and not always easy. It takes discipline and the choice to obey God to preserve your heart. God tells us how to love others, "Love your neighbor as yourself." This means that unless you love yourself you cannot truly love others. To love others is not to be used or be subdued, but to love in purity and power. As you respect yourself and value yourself, you will respect and value others. Love is a choice. You choose to love because you are powerful. You give out of love because you are able.
Love, then, is a circle. God loves you to flow through you to others, and then back to Him in loving worship. The ability to love is a gift and God's manifested glory in and through you. In love, you give to God and others. The faithful love of God will be with you forever.
Kingdom Declaration:
I am loved and in a circle of love as I love God and love others.
Read the Bible in One Year: Exodus 19-20; Matthew 18:21-35.
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