Love Is the Whole Point

One day, someone asked Jesus, “What’s the most important thing God wants from us?”

That’s a big question—especially if you’re exploring faith for the first time. Jesus didn’t give a complicated answer. He said:

“Love God with all your heart. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Matthew 22:37–39 NIV)

Then He added, “Everything else in the Scriptures hangs on these two things.”

But here’s the part we often miss: We do not define Love, He does.
Love isn’t something external to God. It’s who He is.

“God is love.” (1 John 4:8 NIV)

That means Jesus isn’t just handing out good life advice.
He’s describing what God is like.
And inviting us to become more like Him.

To make it real, Jesus told a story. A man is beaten, left in the dirt. Two religious types walk past. But a stranger—the kind of guy you’d never expect—stops, helps, pays for his recovery. That’s what love looks like when it puts on shoes.

Then, before going to the cross, Jesus said:

“Love one another as I have loved you. This is how people will know you’re with Me.” (John 13:34–35 NIV)

So think about this—or ask a friend:

• If God is love, how does that reshape your view of Him?
• What kind of love does Jesus call us into—not just in theory, but practically?
• Who’s someone in your world that needs love right now—not talk, but action?