The Greatest Commandment
The other day, my daughters and I gathered for Bible Study, and we read from the book of Matthew. A snippet of what we read is below.
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27). Luke 10:27 goes a step further to add that we ought to love God with all your strength.
My girls are 12, 10, and 4 years of age. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I always try my best to explain the Bible (stories) in ways that are age appropriate, so its easier for them to understand. I use scenarios and examples that they can relate to. After we read the passage above, I asked them how they loved God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind. They came up with things like praying, thanking God, singing, and doing good. Those were all good examples, but I wanted them to take it step further. I asked them to think about things they love/adore, whether it be a pop star, animal, place, toy, etc. They came up with a few things, but it still was not striking the right chord within me. I had to get them to understand this concept on a new level, then it dawned on me.
The last few weeks, my girls have had the opportunity to be around dogs. Each time they get the chance to play with one, they are always asking if they can have one. They have been asking for years, but especially within the last few weeks since they have gotten to play with some. When they ask, I don't dare say, I'll think about it, or maybe. My NO has to be upfront and clear, or they will ask me at minimum, 5 times a day--everyday. So I asked them, what would you do if I told you I was getting you a dog? How would you react? With just that question, their eyes lit up, they smiled and couldn't even still, telling me, with grand excitement, how they would feel. They told me how excited they would be, that they would play with the dog, feed it, and take super good care of it. Then I said, I bet from the time I told you, you wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it. You wouldn't be able to focus on school, or sleep until you got the dog. You'd think about the dog all the time, and all the things you would do with it. You would imagine taking it for walks, snuggling with it, and having fun, wouldn't you? As expected, the girls replied Yes to all these questions. Then I said, that is just one example of how to love God with all your heart or mind. You must think about Him all the time, that shows how much you love him.
Then we talked about how they could love God with their soul and strength. I told them there would come a time that I would no longer be with them. I said, we all die, it's a part of life. One day, I will go home to Heaven. At that time, it will be very hard for you; but you have to love God with all your strength, no matter how little of it you (feel you) have left. Your heart will hurt, and you may even question God, but remember this conversation. Even then, you have to love God. We have to find the strength to love him, even when our heart aches or our heart breaks. No matter what, you understand? That is how we love God with our strength (or lack of) and our soul. They nodded.
Not only does this apply to my sweet girls, but to all of us. Jesus commands us to love our Heavenly Father with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind. However, before we can love God, we must first know His love for us. If you struggle with this, pray and ask God for a revelation of His love for you. 1 John 4:9-10 says, God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven. This is just one of the many verses in the Bible. Open up the Bible, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of God's love; the Bible is a love story of God's love for us.
For those of you who know God's love, isn't it true that we love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19)? Would you say you love Him? I'm sure you do love, but out of your love, would you do anything for him? Let's take a look at when Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Jesus.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).
This was difficult for Peter, because he had denied Jesus 3 times. Jesus wanted to bring healing to Peter, and this questioning was to reinstate Peter. Jesus knew Peter loved him, but he wanted Peter to take his love a step further by loving others, which is the second part of the Greatest Commandment (love your neighbor as yourself). As we would feed ourselves, we also ought to feed others. As we dress ourselves, we should dress others. As we shelter ourselves, we can shelter others. Out of gratitude, we serve the LORD. We bless others as Christ has blessed us. We love because we are loved. We show them the way to life, because Christ has given us life. What Jesus asks of Peter, he asks of all of us. The Bible tells us that the workers are few. Matthew 9:35- 98 says Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” So fellow brothers and sisters, I raise the question, HOW CAN YOU LOVE JESUS WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART, SOUL, STRENGTH, AND MIND? HOW CAN YOU LOVE OTHERS? I don't only ask you, but also myself. God is calling us to do something, each of us have something stirring within us. Let us rise up and answer the call! Below is a piece of scripture, so fitting for this post. It reads:
I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, so that you, together with all God’s people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’ love. Yes, may you come to know his love, although it can never be fully known, and so be completely filled with the very nature of God (Ephesians 3:16-19).
Let us pray.
Father, Almighty God,
You are so wonderful; the God of abundance, love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness. You are love. Thank You for our Lord and Savior Jesus, and the command that he taught and gave. First and foremost, we ought to love You! Yes Father, teach us how to do this, to love You and others. As for those who do not know Your love, I pray that You will reveal it to them in a deep personalized and special way. May they know it and feel it beyond a shadow of a doubt. For us who know Your love, help us to love others as You have loved us. Help us to take it another level deeper. What is it that You want us to do? How can we feed your lambs, take care of them, and feed your sheep? Let us be Your hands and feet. I pray that You will send us and more workers into the harvest. So many people are in need of Your love LORD. Thank You for Your Will and Plan; let us rise up and answer the call. Let Your Will be done in our lives. Help us to advance Your Kingdom. We praise Your great name. You are awesome and worthy of all Glory, Honor, and Power! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayerfully,
Pam
