Love is defined in many ways. Some define love as caring for someone else, or treating others as you would want to be treated. Christ has given us a definition of what love is “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. Can you imagine laying down your life not for a family member, but for a friend or an acquaintance; someone that you casually know or may not know? “..With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.

Christ has given us a guide of what love looks like, it is called the Ten Commandments (God’s Character). God has given us the Ten Commandments that we may be able to follow it. It is written “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments , and abide in his love.” John 15:10

The Ten Commandments are broken up into two parts. “..Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matthew 22:37-39. The first four commands of the Ten Commandments are between us and how we treat God, and the last six commands are between us and how we treat other people. Let’s take a look..

Love for God

1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me

2. Thou salt not make unto thee any graven images

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain

4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy

Love for our Neighbor

5. Honor thy father and thy mother

6. Thou shalt not kill

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery

8. Thou shalt not steal

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor

10. Thou shalt not covet

Now how do we know Christ was referring to the Ten Commandments? In Romans 13:8-10 we see the resemblance of what Paul references as love. “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to this neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Many may claim that this law is impossible to keep; however, Christ has already made evident by his example that it is possible for mankind to keep with His Spirit. “..Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” 1 Peter 2:21. Love (Ten Commandments) are the standard for righteousness (James 2:8-13), and the foundation of God’s Kingdom (Psalm 111:7-8,119:89). Christ said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15. If we feel that His commandments are a burden unto us, we don’t love God enough, if we feel that loving our enemies is a burden, we don’t love God enough, if we feel that putting God before our heart’s desires is a burden, we don’t love God enough. His love should be a delight as was said “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8.

Christ says “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. Call upon God while he may be found and tell Him your struggles and desires and in return He will give you a peace of mind, and a passionate desire to do His will.