Covenant + LawSample

What are the greatest commandments?

First, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Second, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Bible is a huge book. Actually, it’s a huge collection of books: 66 to be exact. There are 39 books in the Old Testament, and 27 in the New Testament. That’s a lot of books spanning thousands of years with a variety of authors all inspired by God.

Maybe you’re wondering, “Does the Bible have an overall message or point?” Of course, we know it’s all about Jesus. But, if you were asked to summarize the Bible’s message, how would you do it? 

When Jesus walked this earth, He was asked this very question. 

A certain religious leader asked Jesus which commandment of the Old Testament was the most important one. And Jesus responded, somewhat surprisingly, with two commandments.

1. Love God
2. Love Your Neighbor.

Simple. Beautiful. Powerful.

But there’s one major problem, and it has to do with the second commandment and the definition of neighbor.

Surely Jesus doesn’t just mean our literal, next-door neighbors. And He probably doesn’t mean only those people we literally live close to us.

It would be so much easier if He was referring only to those people we agree with, or the people we like. 

No. Jesus’ challenge is much bigger, much more radical. Jesus wants us to treat everyone, and even those people we don’t especially like, as our neighbors. And Jesus calls us to love them. And that love can only come from God.

Spend some time in prayer today asking God to give you a love for Him and for others. Ask Him for creative ways you can show the people around you who God is and that He would provide you opportunities throughout today.