Love: The Greatest Tool

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

Last weekend, my wife and I got to go up to Door County for my first time and enjoy that quiet little haven tucked away just outside of Green Bay. We had the opportunity to go out to eat, read, think, and talk with no kids around. It was a lot of fun. During our stay there were a few things that I noticed as we went to visit the little towns and shops along the water.

Almost everyone we met was the same way. Very kind and willing to help us out…especially when we’re “that” couple that has to eat gluten free. Our first night there the Inn Keeper was extremely nice and happy to help us with anything we needed and everyone we met modeled that attitude.

As Christians their kindness reminded me how important it is to show that to others. When we’re kind, willing to help, and genuinely interested in the people we interact with people pick up on that. It’s much easier to tell someone about Jesus when they get the sense that we genuinely care about them.

Easter is coming up next month and the stories of Jesus throughout holy week will be talked about in Church and maybe at work. Have you ever thought about the love that Christ showed during that week? As he was riding into Jerusalem being praised he knew that these same people would be screaming crucify him at the end of the week. Also, the religious leaders of the time berated Jesus the entire week and in the middle of all that Jesus made these statements in Matthew 22:37-40 “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Isn’t that remarkable? He could have just taken these guys off the face of the earth for what they were doing to him, but instead he chooses to highlight love being part of the 2 greatest commands.

With Easter coming up I would challenge you who are believers in Jesus to learn to love, practice to love, and live to love the way Christ did. If you’re not a believer and are skeptical of Christianity I would challenge you with this. Ask Jesus to show you truth about who he is and I promise you, if you’re willing to listen, he will show you. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”