“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” — Matthew 22:37–38 (NKJV)
A drill sergeant barks an order, and the soldier reluctantly obeys out of obligation. Isn’t it striking that the supreme command from our Master is a command to love?
The law of love supersedes all others. Devotional writer Thomas à Kempis made loving Jesus his ultimate life passion, writing: “When Jesus is present, all is well and nothing seems difficult. But when love for Jesus is absent, everything becomes hard… He is very poor who lives without Jesus; he is very rich who has Him for his friend.”
In marriage, no spouse serves under the threat of a legal contract—they cook, clean, and care for one another out of love. Love transforms labor into delight.
The same is true in your walk with Christ. Serving, giving, encouraging, and witnessing can feel like burdensome chores—or joyful privileges. The difference isn’t your activity level; it’s the temperature of your heart.
Personal Application: How is your love life with Jesus today? If serving Him feels dry or heavy, stop focusing on the duties. Draw near to Him, remember His goodness, and let your service overflow naturally from a heart deeply in love with the Savior.