I. Love God – (Mark 12:28-30)
Anything but a love for God that encompasses all of one’s being and every area of one’s life falls short of God’s will to be all that we were designed to be.
What does it mean to love God?
Love as seen in this verse in Greek is the verb agapao. Agape is a love of intelligence and purpose, of sacrifice and hard decisions.
Agape Love is always a choice.
In contrast to Phileo, an emotional, sentimental, affectionate love, agape is a willful love, a determined love that generously chooses for the interests of another.
The goal of Agape love is that through a full commitment to know, honor, respect and willfully follow Christ in everything we will be led to a Phileo love or an intimate and personal love for Jesus Christ that will be evident in transformed lives that radiate the joy of Christ.
II. Love Others – (Mark 12:31)
Loving others is not optional for the follower of Christ - It is a command.
Obedience to this second great commandment is impossible without fully obeying the first.
In order to love others you must see the value of others.
Loving others is forgiving and reconciling with people.
Loving others is caring for the needs and burdens of others.
Loving others is also seeing the value of a soul and caring enough to share Christ with those who do not know Christ and have not received His grace.
