This post is Part 5 in this week’s series “After You Believe.” Click these links to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, or Part 4.
I’m ending this series on the most obvious note.
What do we do after we begin following Jesus?
In the book of Matthew, Jesus is asked to sum up his entire view of God and reality.
“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.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
In the book of John, we are told what the single defining characteristic of a Jesus follower is.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
In 1 Corinthians, a writer named Paul tells us this:
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
Is the main priority of the Christ-follower to have lots and lots of Bible verses memorized? Is it to pray as much as humanly possible? Is it to be absolutely right about how you vote or what you believe about free will or how old the earth is or which translation of the Bible is most accurate?
No. The main priority is love.
Always love.
Love for our friends.
Love for our enemies.
Love for perfect strangers.
If we do not love, we have completely lost the plot.
So what do we do after we begin to believe in Jesus?
We try to become the kinds of people who are known for love.
We show patience and kindness and compassion and generosity to others because we are a people who must be defined by our love.
After all, love wins.
Thank you for reading this series.
Grace and peace be with you.