Through loving God, we will also love others. One cannot be done without the other. They go hand-in-hand.
My favorite story in the Bible is the story of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers and eventually made his way up working directly with Pharaoh in Pharaoh’s court. What a wild life! He and his family had gone through so many things (some of which are almost unbelievable). All through his life, even though Joseph was wildly mistreated for some of it, he still clung close to God.
Beyond the life of Joseph, there is so much packed into all 66 books of the Bible. There are many other examples of people who have chased after God with everything in their life. In Scripture, there is wisdom, history, story, sacrifice, commands, poetry, and love. Scripture is rich and withstands all generations. It can also be condensed down to one verse:
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
Everything we do comes down to loving God and loving others. In everything that we do and everything that we say we should strive to give glory to God by loving Him with our head, hearts and hands. Through loving God, we will also love others. One cannot be done without the other. They go hand-in-hand.
This week our passage is John 15:9-16:4. Please take time to read this verse outside of Sunday morning. Take time to meditate on the words and on the idea of loving God and one another. Ask yourself these questions:
- How am I loving God with my head, heart and hands?
- How am I loving others with my head, heart and hands?
