HOW WE SHOULD LOVE GOD

 
 
The scripture below was part of a prayer that Jesus would have prayed every day. Probably in the morning and evening.
 
It is part of a bigger prayer called the Shema (pronounced sh-mah’), a call-to-action, ancient, prayer of commitment to follow the Lord.
 
Jesus prayed the words of the Schema and taught them and called them the “greatest commandment”.
 
But what does it mean to “love God with all of our soul’? If Jesus said that THIS was the greatest commandment isn’t it important to know, really know what it MEANS!

LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. Luke 10:27

We can have a deeper understanding of this scripture if we look at the meaning of “soul”, NEPHESH.
 
This word when boiled down to its basic core means LIFE!
 
“Love the Lord with your whole soul” means we should love the Lord with our lives.
 
Moment by moment for our whole lives. Not just on Sundays during church, not just on Christmas and Easter. And not just when we feel like it!
 
Loving the Lord with all our “soul” means loving the Lord on good days and on bad days and on all days in between. It means having an eternal love affair with Him because of His extravagant love for us!
 
Loving God with all our life is not a wishy-washy love. It is not controlled by feelings. It is a love born out of a decision and a choice. It is a commitment to love God with and in every part of our lives!
 
Jesus is calling us to love God with our life.
 
LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. Luke 10:27
 
Every moment! Every day! And in every circumstance! Isn’t that just what Jesus did? He loved God and us with His whole life! He gave His whole life for us!
 
And God loves YOU this way and more.
 
He loved you first and knew you before He even formed the world. He planned for you! He loves you just where you are and more than you can ever think and imagine. 
 
His love is so deep for you that…
 
WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US. Romans 5:8
 
Loving God with our whole life means having a relationship with Him and obeying Him! Jesus called this abiding and obeying.
 
I used to tell my children, how can you serve a God you don’t know. The best way to know and be in relationship with Him is to study your Bible. It is the very Word of God!
 
God is waiting with open arms for you. He waits for you to open His word and hear His voice. And He has so much to say!
 
Today make a commitment to love God with your whole life! 

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8 Comments

  1. Susan Jennings says:

    Thank you for this. I truly appreciate your weekly Bible lessons.

  2. I love your Sunday posts! Thank you for sharing inspiration and encouragement and God’s Love. I had just read Southern Hospitality’s post telling about her young nieces asking God into their heart this week, then read yours. Really enjoyed!
    Vicki

  3. Jan Turner says:

    Where can I purchase the large bible verse wall prints that are above the mantle and foyer?

  4. Sandra Fleming says:

    Thank you, I love God so much in the name of Jesus.

  5. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says:

    Thanks, Yvonne, for another wonderful Sunday devotional. I always enjoy reading these. I know you put so much work into bringing us these — and we appreciate and thank God for you and your desire to serve Him.

    How great it is to know the Lord and have a personal relationship with Him. He is always there for us and, in these days of so much uncertainty, it is so good to know that He loves and cares for us and is only a prayer away.

    I pray that God will continue to bless you, Yvonne, as you seek to serve him through your wonderful posts.

    Have great week!

  6. Your devotionals are always an encouragement and inspiration to me. What a wonderful Savior is Jesus, our Lord! I greatly appreciate your recipes, home decor, ideas, and suggestions.

  7. Emmanuel Ofikwu says:

    I’m willing to love God with everything I have, I am, and I’ll be from now on. So help me God….