Loving God Completely
When Jesus was tested by a lawyer, who asked Him what was the great commandment in the Law, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 without hesitation.(Matthew 22:37) I believe love is the key to how we live. In order to live according to all of God's law, we must love Him completely and love our neighbor as our self. If we do that, everything else falls into place.
Yes, Jesus commands us to love the Lord, but He does not force us to love Him. Love is always a choice. When we choose to love the Lord, it is easy to trust and to obey. When we choose to love others, it is easy to share the gospel with them and to serve them. However, if we love anything more than we love the Lord, we will not trust Him fully and obey Him. Therefore, He must be the focus of all of our love, not family, friends, or things.
I believe some people believe in Jesus, so they can go to heaven, but they do not love Him. That is faith out of an obligation. This is self serving faith. It is not about Him, but about them. That kind of faith doesn't work, because it is not rooted in love for the Lord and pure devotion to Him. The same is true for how we treat others. If we only treat them well, because "Jesus told us to," we are not caring about them, but we are looking out for our own lives.
Set your heart on falling in love with Jesus and with other people, so all of your priorities will automatically line up with the Lord's priorities. He is love. All He does, He does out of love. He loves you, even if you don't love Him. Jesus died for you, out of His great love for you. Love Him back, and love others like He does. Life will come alive through sincere love.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 24-26.
Yes, Jesus commands us to love the Lord, but He does not force us to love Him. Love is always a choice. When we choose to love the Lord, it is easy to trust and to obey. When we choose to love others, it is easy to share the gospel with them and to serve them. However, if we love anything more than we love the Lord, we will not trust Him fully and obey Him. Therefore, He must be the focus of all of our love, not family, friends, or things.
I believe some people believe in Jesus, so they can go to heaven, but they do not love Him. That is faith out of an obligation. This is self serving faith. It is not about Him, but about them. That kind of faith doesn't work, because it is not rooted in love for the Lord and pure devotion to Him. The same is true for how we treat others. If we only treat them well, because "Jesus told us to," we are not caring about them, but we are looking out for our own lives.
Set your heart on falling in love with Jesus and with other people, so all of your priorities will automatically line up with the Lord's priorities. He is love. All He does, He does out of love. He loves you, even if you don't love Him. Jesus died for you, out of His great love for you. Love Him back, and love others like He does. Life will come alive through sincere love.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 24-26.