Loving God in Worship

Jesus was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is first and foremost?” His response was marked by profound simplicity: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31, adapted)

Love God. Love people.

No other commandment is greater. No other law is higher. Love is primary; everything else is secondary. Love is the fulfillment of the Law. Love is the ultimate ethic. 

Love, according to Jesus, involves both a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with people. One cannot be separated from the other. 

Interwoven by the hand of God into every human are both the desire for love and the capacity to love. We love because He first loved us. Let us, then, commit ourselves to that which is the most important command in the eyes of our Savior - to love God and love people.