Take a moment and think about all the things you need to do today? If you have a “To Do” list, pull it out and ask yourself, “What’s the most important thing I need to do today?”
In Mark 12:29-30, Jesus is asked this very question. Here’s His response, “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
You and I were created by God, in the image of God, for the purpose of enjoying a relationship with God. All of God’s commandments are intended to help us fulfill our greatest purpose. All of God’s commands are for our greatest good and His glory. Jesus gives us the most important “to do” in order to fulfill our greatest purpose, experience our greatest good and bring God the greatest glory.
So what does it mean to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?
To love God with all our heart means to desire Him more than anything. Adam and Eve got deceived into believing a piece of fruit was more desirable than God. In a similar way we get deceived into thinking that money, success, pleasure, marriage, children, comfort, security, etc. are all more desirable than God.
To love God with all our soul means that our decisions are driven by our desire for God. The choices we make are for the primary purpose of enjoying a close and intimate relationship with God the Father. What’s been driving the majority of your decisions lately?
To love God with our minds means that we dwell on loving thoughts towards Him. In psalm 1, king David wrote, “his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” People who love God with their minds love His Word and can’t stop thinking about Him.
To love God with all our strength means to devote our everything into loving Him. It’s about loving God to the maximum, not the minimum. It’s about putting our best time, energy and resources into demonstrating our love for Him. What’s been getting your “best” lately?
So in a nutshell, here’s what does it means to really love God:
Let’s embrace the greatest “To Do” and get it done today!
In Mark 12:29-30, Jesus is asked this very question. Here’s His response, “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
You and I were created by God, in the image of God, for the purpose of enjoying a relationship with God. All of God’s commandments are intended to help us fulfill our greatest purpose. All of God’s commands are for our greatest good and His glory. Jesus gives us the most important “to do” in order to fulfill our greatest purpose, experience our greatest good and bring God the greatest glory.
So what does it mean to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?
To love God with all our heart means to desire Him more than anything. Adam and Eve got deceived into believing a piece of fruit was more desirable than God. In a similar way we get deceived into thinking that money, success, pleasure, marriage, children, comfort, security, etc. are all more desirable than God.
To love God with all our soul means that our decisions are driven by our desire for God. The choices we make are for the primary purpose of enjoying a close and intimate relationship with God the Father. What’s been driving the majority of your decisions lately?
To love God with our minds means that we dwell on loving thoughts towards Him. In psalm 1, king David wrote, “his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” People who love God with their minds love His Word and can’t stop thinking about Him.
To love God with all our strength means to devote our everything into loving Him. It’s about loving God to the maximum, not the minimum. It’s about putting our best time, energy and resources into demonstrating our love for Him. What’s been getting your “best” lately?
So in a nutshell, here’s what does it means to really love God:
- Desire God more than anything.
- Decide to do the things that keep us close to God.
- Dwell on great thoughts of God.
- Devote our best time, energy and resources to God.
Let’s embrace the greatest “To Do” and get it done today!
Posted in devo