Devotional: The Greatest Command – Where Love Begins

“‘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 neighbor as yourself.’”
—Matthew 22:37–39 (NIV)

Let’s start here. Love does not originate with us. It begins with God. The Bible tells us God is love, and He has always existed in loving community as Father, Son, and Spirit. That means love was not something He created later, it has always been part of who He is. When we experience love or give love to someone else, we are reflecting God's nature, whether we realize it or not.

But here’s where it gets personal. Jesus didn’t say to love "a" God. He said to love the Lord "your" God. That one little word, “your,” makes all the difference. It means this is not a distant religious idea, it is a deeply personal relationship with a God who invites us to know Him and to love Him with everything we are.

And when we get that relationship right, when we love God first, it has a ripple effect in every other area of our lives. If we’re being honest, the problem most of us face isn’t that we don’t love God. It’s that we don’t always love Him first. We love our families, our comfort, our dreams, or our approval from others more. These aren’t bad things, but when they take the top spot, everything else gets out of alignment. We end up frustrated, anxious, and asking why we’re running on empty.

Here’s the thing. When our love for God is first, our other loves fall into their rightful place. Our relationships become healthier. Our hearts become more peaceful. And our ability to love others becomes more Christlike. That is because we’re no longer trying to get something from people that only God can provide. We are not asking people to be our ultimate source of meaning or security. That job belongs to God alone.

Loving your neighbor does not start with trying harder. It starts with being more deeply devoted to God. When you know His love, you begin to reflect His love. And not just by avoiding harm or being nice. You begin to love sacrificially. Like the Good Samaritan, who didn’t just feel sorry for someone but stepped in and gave generously of his time, money, and effort to meet a need.

That kind of love isn’t natural. But it becomes possible when you live close to the One who created love in the first place. So don’t focus this week on trying to be more loving. Focus on drawing near to your God. From that place, real love begins to overflow.

Questions for the Week

1. In what ways might your “loves” be out of order right now?

2. Who in your life needs you to go beyond “not doing harm” and actually show love through service or sacrifice?

3. How can you make space this week to grow in your devotion to God?

Prayer

God, you are the source of love. Thank you for loving me even when I get things out of order. Help me to love you above all else. Teach my heart to love like you love, sacrificially, compassionately, and without limits. Let your love fill me and overflow into the way I treat others. Help me to be more than a “good person.” Make me a person of deep devotion. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Dig Deeper

• Romans 13:8–10 – What does it look like to “fulfill the law” through love?
  Try this: As you go through your day, ask yourself, “Is this decision helping or harming someone around me?” Use it as a check-in for your attitude and actions.

• Luke 10:25–37 – Read the parable of the Good Samaritan slowly. What stands out to you about his sacrifice?
  Try this: Think of one person who may be hurting or overlooked this week. Write a note, send a text, or drop something off to encourage them. Loving your neighbor starts one person at a time.

• 1 Corinthians 13 – Reflect on the characteristics of true, godly love.
  Try this: Pick one phrase from the chapter (for example, “Love is patient”) and make that your focus for the day. Ask God to show you how to live that out in real time.

  
  We often ask, “How can I love others better?” But Jesus flips the question. “Do you love God first?”
  When love for God is the foundation, love for others becomes the fruit.
  Start there. Everything else flows from that relationship.