Thought for the day #113

LET US LOVE THE LORD

Matthew 22:37 (New American Standard Bible)

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

Many may find it strange that God would make such requirement of His people. Why should we be commanded to love Him?

God is love! He made man in His own Image. We were made to be vessels of unlimited love. We can receive and return His love.

God and man (Adam and Eve) walked and talked together in perfect love and fellowship. Man understood the mind and mysteries of God. His actions and thoughts were pure and wholesome. He was righteous and unblemished.

Then, Adam sinned! His fellowship was broken. His desire to love God and his purity died. He became consumed with the lusts of the flesh (Man’s sinful nature). His sin condemned all of his descendants. Man was locked into the bondage of sin. He became unholy and defiled.

We are all familiar with the desire to satisfy self. We are preoccupied with creature comforts. Greed for wealth or power is a constant obsession. We are plagued with immoral and ungodly thoughts. We often slip into the clutches of committed sin. The law of sin has imprisoned us. (Romans 7:23)

Then Jesus came! He redeemed us, bought us back. He broke the bondage of sin and set us free from the terrible wages of sin and death. Gods love for us never changes. He loves us without condition. The scriptures declare that His people can never be separated from his love. (Romans 8:38-39). Our redemption restored our fellowship with Him. Our desire to love and serve Him is renewed. We are His beautiful bride, clean and pure through His redeeming blood.

We should love Him with our whole heart. Our heart is the center of our very existence as humans. It is the seat of our motivations, desire, and emotions. A pure heart produces pure love.

We love Him with our soul. Our soul is the element of life itself. God “formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath of life.” (Genesis 2:7) (1 Corinthians 15:45) There is no record of God breathing into any other creature. He simply spoke them into being. Our soul, given us by the breath of God, must surely be that element of life that is eternal.

We love Him with our mind. Our Mind is that intellectual part of us. It reasons, evaluates, makes determinations of our will or desire. The mind has the ability to analyze and select from its vast storehouse of knowledge. It coordinates the animation of our body to respond to its intent and purpose.

Love is a choice. We choose to love, just as we choose to express other attitudes, emotions, or deeds. Our love provides the quickest entrance into the presence of God. Let us love Him with our whole being. Our love releases the unrestrained blessing of God upon those who serve him.

May all Israel love him with all our heart, soul, and mind.