Matthew 22:37- 40 Jesus said to him, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
What does it mean to Love God with all your heart, soul and mind?
It is hard to put into words the thoughts that flood my mind when I reflect on all that God has done for me. So many times, He has protected me, he has protected my family…… His blessings upon my life and my family are too numerous to list. Even when I wasn’t everything I should be, His hand was upon me. Even when I couldn’t see it or didn’t recognize it. He was with me.
How could I not love Him with all of my heart?
One of my children asked me “daddy, do you love me with all your heart?”. My response was immediate, “yes”. Then the next question. “Daddy, do you love mommy with all your heart?” I felt the trap closing as my young child looked at me and said “how can you love me with all your heart and mommy with all your heart at the same time?” I began to question my previous desire for children……(laughing here)
How do we love with a single mindedness in a world that has so many demands on our heart? Spouse, children, extended family, friends, job not to mention our faith. Our relationship with God is something that must supersede everything else. Notice I didn’t say the church should supersede everything else but our relationship with God. Now don’t misunderstand, church is important and we should love our church and church family, however God comes before everything else. He must because He brings order, fullness and completion to everything else. The word “all” in Matthew 22:37 comes from a Greek word translated as “whole, all or complete”.
To love the Lord your God with all your heart quite simply means to love God with the whole of who you are. That means loving Him before and above all else…….. completely.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I love you. Let me love you completely, fully and wholly with all that I am. In Jesus Name. Amen.