Not only is love foundational from the beginning of time but Jesus Christ further brings it into perspective when He walked the earth. He was confronted by one of the religious teachers and asked to identify the greatest commandment. His reply, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” Mark 12.30-31. Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18 from the Jewish Torah or what Christians call the Old Testament. Just as John did, He called them back to the foundation.
The Message translation explains it this way, 29Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; 30so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ TMSG
Look at the level or depth of this love that we are called to…with our heart, soul, mind, strength, passion, prayer, intelligence, and energy. This pretty much covers everything one could possibly throw at it. Such a standard forces admission to my own failing because I simply am not there yet I desire to be.
Jesus was asked for the “greatest commandment” and His reply was that there were actually two of equal stature. First is our commitment and love towards God and second is our commitment and love towards those around us. This sets the bar high but if we truly live the life of love so many or our problems will go away…