“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 22:36-40

Jesus tells us the most important command – the command that sums up the law and prophets – is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. He follows it up by telling us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

As Christians, loving God is essential. To love him means to serve him, trust him, obey his commands, accept him, and pursue his heart with all that you are. It is also critical to love others, and this is often where we fall short.

Love is complicated and confusing, but when you pursue God, learn his heart, and seek to know him better, you will naturally learn more about love. How? Because God is love.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love.” – 1 John 4:7-8

God loves us unconditionally. Yes, even the God of the Old Testament who punished people in his righteousness and allowed nations to be destroyed – he loves us. He disciplines and makes us wait as he teaches hard lessons because he loves us (Proverbs 3:11-12). Love is the essence of who God is.

Love is more than saying you love someone or refraining from hateful action towards others — love is an action. Love is providing a shoulder to cry on and fighting for someone’s rights. Love is caring for widows and orphans, helping the homeless find homes and providing for the poor. Love is active.

What if we loved without limits? What if we walked with someone in their pain? What if we met addicts, adulterers and criminals where they are? Can you imagine what this world would be like if we were as forgiving and loving as Jesus? Perhaps more people would believe in Jesus and be saved. Isn’t that something worth taking action for?

What is stopping you? Jesus wants you to love your neighbor and show it, not just say it. So, do it. Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.