There are many wonderful ways to think of the library of writings that make up the Bible. One way I’ve come to view this sacred compilation is as the place to go to understand how we’re connected to God and one another.

Above all, in the Gospels Christ Jesus emphasizes the Hebrew teaching of loving God wholeheartedly and our neighbor as ourself. It’s instructive that loving God comes first. How much thought do we devote to trying to get relationships right, whether desiring relationships we don’t have or trying to fix those we do? And how much of that thought would be better spent loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (see Mark 12:30), which is actually key to righting all our other relationships?

Time and again, Jesus proved the indestructible bond of love between God and each of us as God’s creation, man. This led to healing after healing of those in need, confirming the truth for all humanity of what he said of himself, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). This oneness with God is our most basic and vital connection, forever unvarying.