15. All of me…
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”.
Matthew 22:34; Mark 12:30; Deuteronomy 6:5
Do you think maybe God wanted us to get this message loud and clear? He placed it in the heart of the writer of Deuteronomy and then, many years later, Matthew and Mark picked up the call. We have spent the last while exploring the words in the Old Testament which show us the depth and breadth of his enduring and unfailing love for us. Now it is time to move into the New Testament where we find so much about our love in return. For God and for others.
What better place than to start with these well-known words which pretty much sum up our love response to God in return for the love he has for us. Have you ever sat down and considered your love for God? How big is it? Is it with all your heart; all your soul; all your mind; and all your strength?
Let’s take an inventory…
With all my heart?
The beating heart is the source of my life – without which I would be dead. Is God the one on whom I depend for life itself? Without him would I consider myself as dead? Do I love him more than my physical life? Do I love him more than my family, friends, myself?
With all my soul?
My soul is the very essence of who I am – it is my identity, what makes me, me. Do I love God from the very inner sanctum of myself? Does my spirit soar when I am in his presence? Would I cease to be me without God? Is my identity found in him?
With all my mind?
My mind is the part of me that rationalises, thinks things through, makes decisions. Is my mind so captivated by my love for God that every thought is taken captive for him? (2 Corinthians 10:5). Is my mind obedient to God’s will for my life?
With all my strength?
Strength is measured by effort in the physical world. The stronger team wins the tug of war; the stronger man wins the weightlifting prize. Do I love God with an intensity, an intentionality that takes all my strength?
Am I consumed by my love for God who gave his son so I could be restored into relationship with him? With all my heart, soul, mind, and strength?
Prayer: Lord, so often you are merely a thought at the back of my mind as I get into my busy days. I confess that my love for you has not consumed me, given me the impetus to seek you out in the middle of all the activity. To walk with you along the sand deep in conversation. I ask that your Spirit will so touch mine today that I live life with the intensity and intentionality that comes from my “all” love for you.
Amen
Action: Stop in your busyness today, take time out to do an inventory of your love for God. Is it an “all” love or “mostly” or maybe even “the leftovers” love? Spend time with him, ask him to refill you with overflowing love for him.
Journal your thoughts…