January 15 | Loving God, Loving People

Series | The God Kind of Life

Scripture | Matthew 22:37-39, "37 Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Lesson 15 | Loving God, Loving People   

Did you know that Jesus was a master at making complicated things simple?  In the above verses Jesus simplified 613 Old Testament laws into two easy to remember commands, “Love God and Love People!”  Ofcourse, Jesus taught many other things on how to fulfill those two commands, but the concept was given in such a way that even a child could understand and remember.

Loving God is about being passionate for Him in worship and adoration, John 4:23.  Loving to be with Him and enjoying His presence.  Also, love for God is to obey His commands and do all the things that please Him, John 14:23.  Thus, if you love to worship God and do what He says with all your heart (emotions), soul (inner self), and mind (thoughts) you will always please Him.

Loving people as are yourself is first helping them in their times of need by being a Good Samaritan, Luke 10:33.  Second, it’s preaching the message of Jesus to them at every chance you get, 1 Corinthians 9:22.  For when you have compassion on people and give them the Gospel, you truly love them as you love yourself.

Some people believe that Jesus’ two commands are always out of reach in this life.  Meaning, they don’t truly believe its possible to love God with everything or treat someone like how they want to be treated until they get to heaven.  But actually Jesus was teaching the exact opposite; He was teaching that unless you’re born again and do these things you’re not headed for heaven. 

Therefore, we shouldn’t make excuses and say, “I can’t give Jesus 100% of my heart because it’s too hard, so I’ll just give 75%.”  Rather we should say, “God today I give you everything and if I’m holding anything back let me know so I can rest assured that I do love you with all of me.”  And we should also say, “If I ever mistreat someone today let me God, because I always want to treat others like how I want to be treated.”

As a result, loving God and people should be the norm for the Christian on earth not the hope of heaven.  Therefore, choose today to love God and people! 

Reflection | Do you love God and people?

Action | (1) Search your heart for times you haven’t loved God or people the way Jesus taught. (2) Repent of the times you failed to do so and ask God to cleanse you.  (3) Lastly, now love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself!     

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalm 13:1-6, & Proverbs 3:16-18.  Click here to read online.