atthew 22:34-40 (NIV): Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The greatest commandment has never changed from the time of Adam until today. Even though it was never stated explicitly to Adam, it underlaid the commandment to not eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. If Adam had loved God with all of his being, he would never have disobeyed. That is, and always has been, the key to true holiness and righteousness. Fear of God alone will merely drive sin underground, trying to hide the evil in the dark. But true love makes righteousness shine in the broad daylight, like a bouquet presented to thrill the heart of the beloved.
But this love for God must be all-consuming to be effective. It must encompass the entire heart (the will), the soul (the prime motive in life), and the mind (the thought processes). If any of these are less than total, the enemy is given a foothold into which he can set a hook and drag a person away into compromise, half-hearted obedience, and, ultimately, sin.
Once again, this greatest command is central to everything else, to being able to obey every other commandment. If true love for God is not present in every area of a person’s life and heart, they will not be able to love their neighbor as themselves, either. They will end up sinning against them if there seems to be something to gain, or neglecting them if the “return” for caring does not seem adequate.
Father, I do love You. Help my love for You to always be complete, whole, entire, and utterly pure, with no alloy or contamination at all. Help me to keep You and my love for You at the center of my every thought, word, and deed, today and every day. Amen.