Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
As disciples of Christ we are called to love God with our heart, mind and soul. That means loving God with everything within us. Loving God has a lot more to do than just saying and declaring it. Many people today will confess how they love God and how God comes first in their life, but truth be told when you look at their lifestyle, it tells a different story. Jesus said that if we love our father or mother or even our lives more than we love him, then we are not worthy to be his disciples.
What then does it mean when one says that they love God?
John 14:15
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
You cannot claim to love God and yet, you do not love Jesus because they are one. You cannot claim to love Jesus on the other hand and yet, you do not keep his commandments. This means that the individual who loves Jesus is one who loves the word of God because they are eager to demonstrate their love for Christ by obeying his commandments.
1 John 4:20 NKJV
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [a]how can he love God whom he has not seen?
Loving others is also a considerable demonstration of loving God. When God comes first in someone’s life, they will love people because the love of God for people flows through them.
Reflections
What is the one thing in your life that you cannot do without? (A part from God)
In what areas of your life are you challenged in putting God first?
What is God requiring of you to obey in the present season of your life? What are you doing about it?
