Love is one of the most important words in the Bible. Depending on which version you like to read, the word love can be found in the Bible from 300-500 times! Wow, that’s a lot!
Even though it’s not the most mentioned word in the Bible (I think that’s “Lord”) we know that love is very important. In fact, Jesus said it was the most important. Keep reading to find out why love is the most important commandment in the Bible.
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Love is the Most Important Commandment Because God Loved Us First
God loved us first. He created us to have a relationship with Him. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love each other because He loved us first.” (NLT) This is the first reason why love is the most important commandment.
God Sent Jesus to Save Us All Through Love
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) This is one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. It’s often one of the first “For God so loved the world…” This is the entire background of our faith. God loved the world. The world we live in was created out of love. The landscapes and oceans, the plants and animals, even us, we’re all created because He loved us.
The beginning of John 3:16 is of course super important. But the next part is crucial. “…that he gave his one and only Son…” God giving His son, Jesus, in exchange for us, shows just how special His love is for us. As a mom, I would do just about anything to save my kids. God’s love was sacrificial. He gave His only son to die for our sins. Then, He took it an extra step and called us His own children. It still amazes me what God was willing to do for us!
Love is the Blueprint for Family Relationships
From the beginning, God has loved us. He proved this love by sending Jesus. Another way He shows why love is the most important commandment is through our family relationships.
This first human relationship was created for love and out of love. The love of a marriage is very similar to the love Christ has for the church, which is everyone in the Jesus Lived Out His Love Everyday Jesus has a He Showed Love by Helping Those Who Needed Him Jesus performed many miracles during his short time on earth. Several of these are mentioned in the gospels. Each of these miracles had a purpose in His ministry. These miracles, and other actions of Jesus, show us why love is the most important commandment. Let’s look at the time Jesus healed the leper. Mark 1:40-42 tells us, “A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him, ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” This miracle is important for several reasons. For starters, people with leprosy were seen as unclean. Israelites weren’t supposed to touch people with it, or they would be unclean too. Jesus showed love to this leper by being willing to touch him. Just like today, people with physical deformities are often ignored and feel unwanted. But by simply listening to this man, and being willing to help him, Jesus showed love and kindness to this man that he probably had not seen in many years. The way Jesus treated children is another example of Him showing why love is the most important commandment. At that time in history, children were often ignored. But Jesus called for the children to come close to Him. He used the example of a child’s honesty and trust to show who would enter the kingdom of In Matthew 9 Jesus raises a young girl from the dead. He was so moved by her father’s faith and sadness that He performed this miracle. These are just a few of the many ways Jesus showed that love is the greatest commandment. Jesus lived his life 100% out of love for us. Everything he did on this earth was for 1 John 3:16 says, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” This verse is a reminder of what Christ did for us. It’s also a reminder of what we should be willing to do in order to save others. When we think about all that Jesus did for us, it’s obvious that His motivation was love. He lived out the most important commandment of love. Loving God and loving His neighbor (us) was the sole purpose of His Love is the Most Important Commandment Because it Builds Relationships Jesus desires to have a personal Jesus performed the biggest act of love. Ever. So, He wants us to reflect this love to those around us. His enduring example is why love is the most important commandment. Many verses in the New Testament command us to love one another. They also remind us to do this because He first loved us! In the book of John Jesus gives this commandment several times. In John 13:34 He says, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” In John 15 Jesus says, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you,” (verse 12). And a few verses later He says it again, “This is my commandment: Love each other,” (verse 34). There are countless other examples in the Bible giving this same commandment: love others as Jesus loved you. It’s very clear that we should live by the example Jesus gave us. He showed us love even when we didn’t deserve it. So we should continue showing His love in our lives every day. All of this love has a purpose. Our main goal as What are some ways you live out the commandment of love in your life? Feel free to leave a comment or message me with your ideas! To view and print my Bible verse coloring sheets, click here! And be sure to subscribe below for Bible study access! Blessings,Jesus Gave His Life for Us Out of Love
Loving Other People Reflects God’s Love for Us
Love is an Important Commandment Because it Leads People to Jesus
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