Sunday, December 12, 2010

What is Love?

I came up with an interesting thought about a week ago and it has been tumbling around my brain ever since.  It's puzzling to me, so I thought I'd share. 

I've been doing a lot of thinking and praying lately about what it means to love God.  What is the first and greatest commandment?  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)  The second commandment?  "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:31)  But what does that mean?  What does it look like in practice?  How do I love God with every ounce of my being, love other people, and what will that look like practically in my life?  I came across the answer in 1 John 5:2-3.  "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.  This is love for God: to obey His commands."  So, we love people by loving God and obeying His commands.  Okay.  What are God's commands?

Love God and love people.

I love God and love people by obeying God's commands.  God's commands are to love God and love people.  I love God and love people by obeying God's commands.  God's commands are to love God and love people.  It's a never-ending circle that never really answers my questions. 

I know that there are about 3 people who actually read this blog, but I also know that those minds are greater than mine, so if anyone wants to enlighten me, please do. 

1 comment:

  1. Well, I posted a comment a few days ago, but apparently it didn't take. I had never realized how circular this "loving God" thing is. But I actually like it that there is not an easy answer. If there were an easy answer, we might stop thinking about it.

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