You Were Created to Love and Be Loved

I pray this week’s message awakens freedom in your soul, refreshes your perspective, and brings renewed purpose with joy. The Old Testament is evidence of the frailty of humanity in understanding God’s commands and relational obedience. Thankfully, Jesus simplified God’s commands in Matthew 22:37–39: “You shall 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. The second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These words follow Jesus’ parable of the great wedding feast, where many were invited but few responded. One guest was cast out because he showed up for the feast but did not change. Later in the chapter, the religious leaders tried to trap Jesus. Although they knew the Scriptures, they failed to recognize the Living Word—Jesus—standing before them. God is Love! Let us not misunderstand the beauty of God’s commands and our created purpose.

Loving the Lord with ALL your heart, soul, and mind requires wholehearted focus, intentional awareness and obedience, but the rewards are immeasurable! This command reflects the Father’s love because it protects us and keeps us aligned with His perfect will. When we put God first in our thoughts, desires, actions, and awareness, circumstances and earthly loss cannot shake us. God is eternal and will never fail us. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Through the second commandment (Matt. 22:39), He shows us how loving obedience reveals our identities as God’s children and equips us to share the Gospel with sincerity.

To love our neighbors as ourselves is God’s perfect will and will bring more people into relationship with God than preaching laws because God is Love and actions speak louder than words. Do you want to be loved for who you are? Then love people for who they are. Do you want to be understood? Then take time to understand others. Do you want to be valued? Find the value in others. Do you need forgiveness? Forgive others. Jesus did not say to love those who deserve it or for a favorable response, but to do it out of love for Him. We are created to love and be loved. Try it and see how freeing it is. Love never fails.

All of creation is groaning for the manifestation of the sons and daughters of God to rise up in Love!