Jesus said the most important commandment is to
love God and others. To live apart from this directive
is to miss our reason for being. There are different
types of love, as well as different degrees of intensity.
For example, brotherly love—phileo in the Greek—is
one type of caring. While agape—the unconditional
love that characterizes God—is love of the highest
order. Agape is a commitment that inspires us to help
others find and pursue God's plan for their lives.

John 13:35 tells us, "By this all men will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Jesus was saying His followers should be identifiable
by their love for others. But people enter the
world as selfish sinners with a limited capacity to
demonstrate care and concern. So, God must do
something to enable them to show His love. By
receiving salvation through Christ the Savior, a person
becomes a brand-new creation. The Holy Spirit
instantly begins to work in the believer's life
so God can live out His life and love.

Natural, self-generated love is imperfect because it
comes from a sinful heart (Jeremiah 17:9). However,
a heart filled with the Spirit is capable of practicing
agape love. Believers are able to love even their enemies
and persecutors because the Holy Spirit lives out
God's most important commandment through them.

Love that is selfless, patient, and kind is rare. Its sole
source is God. We're unable to practice that kind of
passionate care until we allow the Father's love to
flow through us.