Matthew 22:36-39
Most people contemplate the purpose of our existence and the reason we have been created. We ponder the deeper meanings of why we exist. Beyond the meaning of life we must also understand the meaning of our faith life.
An expert in the Jewish law asked Jesus a question. The question was likely meant to trip up Jesus, to catch him in a mistake or get him to say something foolish or incorrect. The question seems to be the biggest question there is about faith – in a sense, he was asking what the purpose of faith is all about.
What is the greatest commandment? What is the second greatest commandment? How are these two related?
As we examine our growth in faith, our ability to become better Christians and stronger in our faith, we must understand the basics of our faith. If we will move through the maturing process that Peter addressed we should know the purpose of living out our faith.
According to Jesus, the Son of God, the greatest commandment, the most important aspect of faith, is to love God. And we must love God with our entire being, with all that we are – our heart, soul and mind. It can not be a half-hearted, insincere commitment to the Lord.
Jesus quickly added a second greatest commandment. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are to love all people – those we know and those we do not know, those we like and those we do not like – with the same love that we would have for ourselves. Such love is deep, strong and caring.
This second command is added because it is a part of the first. If we can grow toward being greater Christians and better believers, we will learn to love God with our whole being. And if we can achieve that level of love and compassion, then it will become part of who we are to love all of God’s people as well. To love God means that we love all that God has created too.
It can be a challenge, but it is what we are called to do as we grow and mature in our faith.
DAILY CHALLENGE: What must change in you to love God with all your heart, soul and mind?
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