Can you name the greatest commandment? Jesus said it’s “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” (Mt. 22:37). If you’ve spent any time in church you’ve probably heard that commandment. In most churches I’ve attended though, we easily glide past the greatest commandment and move on to the secondary one: “love your neighbor as yourself,” (Mt. 22:39). I just finished The Importance of Being Foolish by Brennan Manning, and he commented on how easy it is for us to try to love our neighbors before trying to love our God. Why? Because God is invisible. Loving Him is a vague thing, and yet, when we choose to try to love other people before loving God we’re committing idolatry by putting them before Him. What have you done recently to love the Lord your God? Have you spent time with Him in solitude? Have you marveled at His creation? Have you worshipped Him in the quietness of your heart? Or does your ringing and vibrating cell phone remind you to love your neighbors first? If you’re not careful, you may end up chucking the greatest commandment without even realizing that you’re doing it. Who receives your first love? Is it your God?
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