everything flows out of love

We are called to be image-bearers of Christ, and the best way to exemplify this is by being love. In Matthew 22 Jesus replies to a pharisee asking ‘which commandment is greatest’ with these two : ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… you shall love your neighbor as yourself’ (36-39).

i believe Jesus calls these the greatest because He knows that everything good flows out of love. Jesus even goes on to say in verse 40 ‘on these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets’. for the rest of the 10 commandments are kept with this love. if we are exemplifying love we will not steal, we will not murder, we will not commit adultery and so on. if we love our God with all our hearts, all our souls and all our minds we will continue to grow in love as we continue to grow closer with Christ.

the heart of God is many things, but above all else, He is love. for without love would God be merciful? no, He withholds our deserved punishment of Hell because He loves His children. without love would our God be gracious and faithful in His promises? no, since we are His beloved, He grants us unmerited favor and gives us the gift of spending eternity with Him – our true home, one that He has prepared for us. a city like no eye has ever seen. He keeps His promises because He loves us and wants us to succeed in our doings that align with His will. without love would God be able to forgive as He does? no, we need God’s forgiveness every day and He keeps no record of wrongs – we are seen as holy and blameless before God because He sent His own Son to die the death that you and i deserve. would God do that if He were not love?

we are made a new creation when we die to ourselves and accept God into our lives. we are being transformed in the image of the One who created us. we are constantly being renewed in love, to be a mirrored reflection of our Heavenly Father.

this is why Jesus calls these the greatest of the commandments because if we continue to grow in love, we will continue to grow in His likeness.

there should be something different about the way we as Christian’s love, we are called to ‘not conform to the pattern of this world’ (Romans 12:2). so, why would we love like the rest of the world? when you have the spirit of the Living God inside your heart you are able to extend His love to others. that is how our love is to be seen as different among the world.

for everything that is good flows out love.

-n0tbychance