When Jesus was asked what mattered most in life, His answer was strikingly simple—and profoundly demanding:
According to Jesus, all obedience, holiness, and spiritual growth flow from these two loves. Discipleship (following Christ) is not first about activity, knowledge, or religious performance—it is about rightly ordered love.
Loving God: The Source of All Obedience
To love God is not merely to acknowledge Him, believe in Him, or even serve Him. Biblical love is covenantal—it involves affection, loyalty, trust, and surrender.
1. Loving God with the Heart
The heart represents desire and affection. Loving God with the heart means He becomes our greatest treasure, not merely a means to other blessings. Our prayers, worship, and choices reveal what we truly love.
2. Loving God with the Soul
The soul speaks to identity and allegiance. To love God with the soul is to belong to Him entirely—to say, “My life is not my own.” This love shows itself in repentance, humility, and perseverance in faith, even when obedience is costly.
3. Loving God with the Mind
God calls us to love Him thoughtfully. Disciples grow by renewing their minds through Scripture, sound teaching, and discernment. Loving God with the mind guards us from shallow faith and enables us to worship Him in truth.
Loving God is not something we manufacture—it is a response to His prior love.
Loving Others: The Visible Evidence of Love for God
Jesus inseparably connects love for God with love for people. Scripture is blunt about this connection:
Love for others is not optional or secondary—it is the visible proof of genuine faith.
1. Loving Others Sacrificially
Biblical love is not defined by emotion but by action. It is patient, kind, forgiving, and self-giving (1 Corinthians 13). This love mirrors Christ, who loved us not when we were worthy, but when we were helpless.
2. Loving Others Across Differences
Jesus calls us to love not only those who are easy to love, but also enemies, outsiders, and those who wound us. This kind of love defies the world’s logic and reveals the kingdom of God.
3. Loving Others as a Witness
Jesus taught that love is the defining mark of His disciples—not eloquence, power, or influence.
A church can have correct doctrine, impressive programs, and passionate worship—but without love, it fails its mission.
The Order Matters: God First, Then Others
We cannot reverse the order. Loving people without loving God leads to burnout, compromise, or moral confusion. Loving God without loving people leads to hypocrisy and spiritual pride.
True discipleship begins with God and overflows to others.
When we love God rightly:
- Our love for others becomes patient instead of controlling
- Our service becomes joyful instead of resentful
- Our obedience becomes worship instead of duty
Practicing Love as a Disciple
Disciples grow in love intentionally. This involves:
- Daily communion with God through prayer and Scripture
- Regular repentance when love grows cold
- Choosing forgiveness over bitterness
- Serving others without seeking recognition
- Asking God to soften our hearts toward difficult people
Love is not perfected in a moment—it is formed through obedience over time.
Conclusion: Love Is the Goal
Discipleship is not about becoming impressive Christians—it is about becoming loving ones.
At the end of our lives, God will not ask how much we knew, owned, or achieved. He will ask whether we loved Him—and whether that love was reflected in how we treated others.
May our lives testify to that greatest command—and that greatest love.