The Greatest Commandment
February 5, 2026
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
When challenged on the greatest commandment, Jesus responds that we are to love God with everything we are and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This is the very heartbeat of life—to love God and love one another. This is true because we are made in the image of God, who is the very definition of love. Of course, sin mars God’s beautiful conception of love, and we see the distortions in all sorts of ways—failed relationships, broken marriages, abused and neglected children, unforgiveness, and the list goes on and on.
Yet, through Jesus, we have been given new hearts—hearts that are capable of true love for God and for our neighbor. That love continues to grow as we mature in Christ—as we become more like Christ.
In this month where love seems to be on the minds of many people, it might be a good time for us to do a little self-examination. How faithful are we in the love we have for our family, friends, and neighbors? Though often used in marriage ceremonies, Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians offer for us a good test to see if our love is what it should be.
Paul writes, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Now, let’s replace the word “love” with our names and see if these statements ring true. So, for example, is this a true statement? “Brandon is patient, Brandon is kind.” Can I honestly say that? Have I been patient and kind to my family, to my friends, to my neighbors? Have I been envious or proud? Am I keeping a running list of the wrongs done to me? And on it goes.
The idea here is not about beating ourselves up about the places where we are falling short but about identifying those areas where we need to grow, and friends, the very one who is Love desires for us to grow. So, if you are struggling with patience or kindness or pride or anger, then there’s no better time than to seek forgiveness and allow the Holy Spirit to transform your heart. Because God is love, God wants our hearts to be overflowing with love, for Him and for each other. After all, as Paul reminds us, love is “the most excellent way.”
I love you, church!
Grace and peace,
Brandon