WHAT ARE GOD’S TOP TWO COMMANDS FOR BELIEVERS?

SCRIPTURE:
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 
There is no commandment greater than these.”
(Mark 12:31)

MEDITATION:
When a lawyer asked Jesus to tell him the most important of all the commands 
from God, Jesus responded with the top two on the list.
The first is:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul 
and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:31)

Jesus says the second most import command 
is to ‘love our neighbor as ourselves’.
The common theme in both of these top two commands is ‘love’.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, 
continue to live your lives in him (Colossians 2:6)

How do we live our lives 'in Him'?
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the 
way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant 
offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Believers are identified by their love. 
Have you ever thought about how you should love others 
and the benefits of developing a loving heart and attitude? 
Paul addressed this topic in his letter to the Corinthians.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have  not love, 
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Paul implies that love is the catalyst that causes gifts to become active and useful; 
he states that speaking in tongues is no more than rambling unless love is included.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, 
and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 
(1 Corinthians 13:2)
Paul says that even the gift of prophecy, gaining great knowledge,
and having a strong faith are of no value unless love is included.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, 
but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3)
Paul says that being a good citizen, doing things for others, and 
making great sacrifices are of no benefit to anyone without love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, 
it is not proud. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
Paul begins a list of the characteristics of love:
Patient (it is interesting that this is listed first; being tolerant of others).
Kind (is considerate of others).
Does not envy (is not jealous).
Does not boast (is not conceited).
Is not proud (God says several times in His Word that He hates
arrogant pride – whatever He hates should not be a part of our lives).

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 
it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:5)
Is not rude (is not ill-mannered; doesn’t ignore others; 
doesn’t interrupt and ‘talk over’ people).
Is not self-seeking (is not selfish; thinks of others ahead of himself).
Is not easily angered (is not irritable; knows how to exercise self-control).
Keeps no record of wrongs (could mean doesn’t hold a grudge, or is not 
pre-occupied with sinful thoughts (in other words, does not continually 
think about past sins)).  

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:6)
Does not delight in evil (is not happy with sin; committing sin bothers him).
Rejoices with the truth? (honest - happy with the truth; is not sneaky; 
doesn’t feel he has to hide anything – no hidden agendas).

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
(1 Corinthians 13:7)
Always protects (is ready to encourage others when they are mistreated).
Always trusts (has an unusual trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit (especially 
when it is different than the worldly view and may not make sense initially)).
Always hopes (maintains hope, even in the worst circumstances).
Always perseveres (faces adversity with patience).

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; 
where there are tongues, they will be stilled; 
where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:8)
Never fails (will always seek the right thing to do or say).
Paul says that the use of gifts will fade, but love will always be needed, 
and will always available from those who obey God’s two top commands.
He could also be implying that we may lose our spiritual gifts 
if we can't develop love in our lives.
 
ACTION:
Where does the needle on your ‘love meter’ point?
Is it moving forward, remaining stagnant, or possibly moving backwards?
Do you think Jesus was just making a suggestion, or was reminding
believers of the importance of obeying God’s two top commands?

Getting rid of selfishness will make more room for love. 
Start start looking at others in a totally new way. 
Be more sensitive to the needs and issues of others.
Develop the ability to sense whenever another person needs encouragement.
Learn to do things for others without being asked, 
and without expecting anything in return.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the love You have shown to all mankind.
Thank You, Jesus for showing us the greatest expression of love at Calvary.
Lord, help me to develop a greater love in my heart for You and for others.
Guide me in eliminating selfishness and self-serving attitudes, so that I can
become more loving of You and others in obedience to Your commands.
Help me to develop the type of love that You and Jesus have.”