We’re surrounded by lots of rules, especially at school. Don’t run, no loud talking in the corridors, no food in the classrooms, etc.

But all these are nothing compared to over 600 commands that the Israelites had to remember and live by. Imagine their surprise when Jesus came along and said that to please God, they only needed to keep two rules!

He said: “ ‘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. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (MATT. 22:37-40).

What Jesus was saying is that our love for God isn’t only shown in our relationship with Him, but also in how we treat people. All of them. And let’s face it; loving others can be really hard! Some of them just annoy us!

If we are trying to love others, we won’t lie to them, gossip about them or envy them. If our love for God drives our love for others, we’ll even find the strength to forgive them when they hurt us—just as He forgave us.

By: Joe Stowell

To Pray About . . .

Lord, teach me to humble my heart to love people around me, so that they can see You through me.