Love God and Love Your Neighbor

Jesus taught that we ought to love God above all things and that we ought to love our neighbor as ourselves. By doing so, we will have demonstrated one of the fruits of the spirit; for we have crucified our sinful nature with its passions and desires.

“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”

(Matthew 22:37-40)

How do we love God? We love Him by doing His will in our lives, which is upholding His word in all our dealings. By this, we glorify Him in all our thoughts and deeds; and He will remember us and never leave us nor forsake us.

How should we love our neighbor? Jesus said that no one has greater love than to give up one’s life for another. If our neighbor is in need, as we would be in need, we ought to minister to them with all we have. Give to them as we would give to ourselves.

If we truly love as God would have us love, we would also enjoy the rich blessings of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. God will not hold anything back, therefore love God and love your neighbor.