In this time of pandemic and uncertainty it is so important that we focus on the only thing that can drive out fear, and that is love. We find real love when we discover the love of God and share that love with everyone we meet.
Jesus made clear that this is the core foundation of life. We read in Mark 12:28-31: And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The first commandment that Jesus mentions here is Loving God, and we see that:
1. Loving God is the most important priority in our lives (Matthew 22:35-40; Luke 10:27 Deuteronomy 6:4-7; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)
- God is the great Creator God
- God is the Holy God of Heaven
- God is the Faithful God (Psalm 119:90)
- God is the God of Unconditional Love (Psalm 103:10-13)
2. Loving God affects every area of our lives
- with all your heart
- with all your soul
- with all your mind
- with all your strength (Ecclesiastes 12:1; 2 Samuel 6:14; Psalm 84:2)
3. Loving God is the result of a change in our lives (1 John 4:10; 1 John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Luke 7:37-47; Romans 8:38-39)
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Is loving God the most important priority in your life above all other things? Today many people ridicule the whole idea of loving God, choosing to follow false gods such as money, pleasure, power and possessions instead. The Bible says that this would happen (2 Timothy 3:1-5). When people turn from loving God to hating God the world becomes a more hateful place. God alone is the source of love because the very essence of God is love. The Bible teaches that we should love God first above all other loves. When our priority is loving God, then we will become more loving people and will help to build more loving families, communities and nations. The Old Testament taught very clearly that God is the great Creator God who brought beauty out of nothingness and order out of chaos. Everything God created was good. He is also: the Holy God of Heaven, in whom there is no darkness, impurity, corruption or injustice; the faithful God who always keeps his covenant and fulfils His promises; and the God of unconditional love who mercies never fails and who freely forgives because of His great compassion. This is the God that Jesus says we must love above all else because there is no one else so perfect and wonderful as Him.
Do you love the Lord with your whole being, with all that you are? Has every area of your life been affected by the love of God? Jesus taught that we are to love God with our whole being: heart, soul, mind and strength. To love God with your heart means to love God with your emotions, that you are enthusiastic about praising God, reading His Word and praying, and that you want to tell others all about Him. It also means you want to stay close to God in every season of life, and are passionate about knowing Jesus and extending His kingdom. Loving God with your soul means loving Him from the very core of your being: that your inner self and personality reflect your love for God, and that you show your love for Him in the way you live, in the choices you make, and in the behaviour and lifestyle you adopt. Loving God with your mind means renewing your mind daily so that your thoughts are shaped by the Word of God and the Spirit of God, not by the lies of Satan and purely human understanding. Loving God with all your strength means that we use our strength and health on what pleases God. If you are too tired to serve God, then what are you spending your energy on? Everyone, even the strongest person, has limited amounts of energy so we need to be careful not to waste our energy on meaningless or ungodly things. Real Christians, real disciples, are full of the life of God at all times, at work, in the home and at leisure. They are always purpose driven. They are always full of the love of God and love for God, not just on Sundays but all days. Loving God affects every area of our lives.
Have you really experienced the forgiveness of God? Do you realise that Jesus gave His very life so that you could live a new life of daily relationship with Him? Do you know that Jesus can be your greatest friend and that nothing can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)? The people who love God are those who have discovered the love of God. Even when we were far from God and maybe in total rebellion to God, the love of God caused Jesus to pay the price of our sin and open the gates of heaven to us (Romans 5:8). Of course, you have to first accept that you are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness to understand how wonderful it is to be forgiven and freed from guilt and condemnation. The woman in Luke 7:37-47 loved the Lord greatly because she knew she needed forgiveness and because she was sure she had received forgiveness. Do you know how much God loves you? If you do, you will have no problem loving God with all your being.
