WHAT ARE GOD’S TOP TWO COMMANDS FOR BELIEVERS?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
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 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)

The scriptures tell us that believers should be identified by their
capacity to love God and others. Have you ever thought about
how we 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 says 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:
    Love is patient
        (it is interesting that this is listed first; love knows how to be patient).
    Love is kind (love is considerate of others).
    Love does not envy (love is not jealous).
    Love does not boast (love is not conceited).
    Love is not proud
        (God says several times in His Word that He hates arrogant
          pride – and 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)
    Love is not rude
        (love is not ill-mannered; doesn’t ignore others;
          doesn’t interrupt and ‘talk over’ people; is not condescending).
    Love is not self-seeking
        (love is not selfish; love thinks of others ahead of themselves).
    Love is not easily angered
        (love is not irritable; knows how to exercise self-control).
    Love keeps no record of wrongs
        (could mean doesn’t hold a grudge, or is not preoccupied 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)
    Love does not delight in evil
        (a person with love is not happy with sin; committing sin bothers them).
    Love rejoices with the truth
        (love is honest – happy with the truth; it is not sneaky;
          it doesn’t feel the need to hide anything from others).

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
(1 Corinthians 13:7)
    Love always protects
        (love is ready to encourage others when they are mistreated).
    Love always trusts
        (a person with love has an unusual trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit;
          especially when it conflicts with the worldly view, and during the times
          when following the Holy Spirit’s direction doesn’t make sense at first).
    Love always hopes
        (love maintains hope, even in the worst circumstances).
    Love always perseveres (a person with love 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)
    Love never fails
        (love will always seek the right thing to do or say).

Paul says that the use of gifts may fade, but love will always be needed,
and love will always be 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:
Questions to consider:
    – Where does the needle of my ‘love meter’ point?
       Is it moving forward, remaining stagnant,
       or possibly moving backwards?
    – Do I think Jesus was making a suggestion, or was He reminding
       believers of the importance of obeying God’s top two commands?
    – Do I want to have the same level of love as the One I am following?
    – How much effort am I willing to commit to become more loving?
    – How much selfishness and self-centeredness do I have in my life?
    – Do I have any arrogance that needs to be eliminated so I can be more loving?

Getting rid of selfishness will make more room for love. As followers
of Jesus (aka believers), we need to have the ability to look at others in
a totally new way. We should be more sensitive to the needs and issues
of others. We need to learn how to sense whenever another person is in
need of encouragement and then encourage them. We need to 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, when You gave Your all for us.
Lord, help me to develop a greater love in my heart for You
and for others. Guide me in eliminating selfishness and any
self-serving attitudes, so I can become more loving of You and
others; help me to obey Your commands. Develop in me the type
of love that has been shown by You and Jesus.”

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