The Greatest Commands

Scripture:
Matthew 22:34-40
Luke 5:1-11

The greatest commands from God can be the hardest of them all.  If we try to fulfill God’s commands on our own power we will fail.  Jesus told the Pharisees that the greatest command is to love God with everything we are.  The second is to love our neighbors as ourselves.  All the other commands hinge upon these two.

Trying to love our neighbors and enemies on our own power will doom us to fail.  After all it is in our nature to be self seeking and self serving.  It becomes about what I can get or how can I benefit.  Loving others as we love ourselves we deny ourselves and it becomes about someone else.  It is now what can I do for them.  It is no longer to our benefit but our neighbors.  

When we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit God will give us the strength and desire to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Eventually it is no longer being a chore but a way of life.  1 Corinthians 13:4-7

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Let our motto in life emulate these verses.  If we do then we will put others first in life.  Then just maybe this world will become a better place.  Jesus loves us so much He came to die so that we might have life.  He became a teacher to show the way.  He became a healer to give life.  He became a counselor to help prepare us.  Peter’s first encounter with Jesus was when He filled the nets with fish.  Peter’s life was changed forever because he did as Jesus asked.  How much will He bless us and give to us if we listen to His commands, specially the first two…