Love First

In a recent sermon, we explored Jesus’ encounter with a legal expert testing him on the greatest commandment in Scripture (Matthew 22.34-46). In an ancient Rabbinic tradition with 613 distinct laws, teachers routinely debated which commands were vital and which were light. But Jesus didn't simply pick two commands to sit at the top of a priority list. Instead, he radically declared that all the Law and the Prophets depend on them!

The original Greek word for "depend" literally means to be suspended from a peg or hook. Love is not merely a heavy rule among many; it is the foundational ethic from which every single command in Scripture hangs. Vertical devotion to God and horizontal love for our neighbors are completely inseparable. Without love as our anchor, all other religious practices lose their meaning and purpose!

As we look ahead together as a church family, we are reminded: "The future of the church will be forged not by clever strategies, but by communities radically committed to loving God and neighbor."

As we press on toward perfection in love, take some time to reflect on these three key questions …

How are you loving God?

How are you loving the people God places in front of you?

How are you inviting others to embrace the hope of Christ in their lives?