Plug Into Godنموونە

Love is 1st

Jesus was asked what is the first or most important commandment of all. His response was to love Him (God) first with everything you have, then to love people the way you love yourself. How is it even possible to love God with all that you have AND to love yourself? Didn’t I just give all of my love to God?

I’ve come to learn that loving ourselves as humans is quite easy and somewhat unavoidable. When I’m not loving God with all that I have, I tend to be selfish, prideful, and inconsiderate of others. I want all the attention and I’m more concerned about my desires for me than God’s desires for me. My behavior is focused on pleasing me.

But when I love God with all that I have, He gets the best of me. I give Him my heart over social media, the person I like, or even gaming. I love Him with my mind and soul by spending time in His Word and having frequent conversations with Him more than I look to Google or somebody who I think knows the answer to my situation. I love Him with all my strength by being thankful at all times and praising Him even when it doesn’t look cool or I don’t feel like it.

It’s in loving Him that we truly love ourselves because we were made in God’s image. And no one has the power or desire for us to be well more than God does! It’s only through God’s love that we can love our neighbor past ourselves. It becomes a love that wants the best for them just as we want for ourselves.

Reflection

1. Recall an occasion and action when you loved yourself God’s way versus your way.
2. God calls us to love Him with everything we have. What is an area in your life where you can love Him more?
3. How are you loving the people around you like you love yourself?

Walter Lewis II