Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV) ³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

God is love and when we embrace the love of God:  we receive the gift of salvation, peace in the midst of confusion, and power to sustain us in every situation.

Our response to God’s love has everything to do with our relationship with God and our neighbors.  It is impossible to love God without loving our neighbor.   Our neighbors are those who agree with our values and those who do not.  Our neighbors are those whose ethnicity and culture are different from ours.

When we follow the commandment to love, we have harmony with God and one another.  This growth helps us to understand that love has everything to do with it!