Our Love For God

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Matthew 22:37).

It is one thing to recite these words and quite another thing to practice them. This is one of those truths that appear on the walls of many churches, are often read, but seldom practiced.

Before His disciples, Jesus called a little child unto Him and said to them, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).

Little children sing, “Jesus loves me! this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” It is interesting that little children can indeed love God so simply and so innocently. Perhaps we could allow them to teach us something about loving God. As adults, we tend to know a lot about God and somehow equate that with loving God.

Matthew 22:37 states that we are to love God with all our minds. Since He has revealed Himself in His Word, the more we seek Him in His Word, the more we will know about Him and the more we know about Hm, the greater will be our love for Him. A child will not have taken that opportunity and yet can respond to God with a love that is much greater than what most adults do. For this reason, Jesus said, “Except ye become as little children.”

The statement in Deuteronomy 6:5 was on the lips of faithful Jews morning and evening. There are times when that which is most familiar to us becomes that which is taken for granted and not really considered with any depth of understanding and feeling.

It is a great commandment, one of supreme importance and priority indicating that our total being should be wrapped up in God Himself. Jesus emphasized “with all our minds.” So, the command for us to love God intellectually, indicating that we ought to be students of God. Are you a student of God? What evidence might there be for your answer? How often are you in the Word of God seeking to know Him more? When is the last time you truly searched the Scriptures (John 5:39)? If we truly love God, we will not be lazy when it comes to the time we spend in His Word. How often do you think about God? How often do you talk about God? Do you serve Him? Ask yourself, “Do I really love Him?

If we say we love Him, doesn’t it make sense that we be somewhat preoccupied with Him? When I told my girlfriend (who became my wife) that I loved her, I found myself preoccupied with her, taking a great amount of interest in her. If we truly love God, we will find ourselves taking a lot of interest in Him. It will involve an intense commitment to Him.

These questions take on a whole new understanding for those living in lands where Christianity is illegal, where you can lose your life for being a Christian. What tends to be amazing to us is the incredible commitment level and love for God that people have and express in these lands. Knowing yourself, what would you do if your life was under threat for being a Christian? It is strange that we have more Biblical knowledge and we know far more about God than what do most of those Christians who have lost their lives in other lands simply because they put Christ first in their lives. We are so spiritually soft in America and yet it is possible the way America is today that it will not be that long before we are going to know severe persecution in our own land. It will really test us as to whether we truly love God. It is very easy to say that we love Him when our lives are not on the line.

We are to love Him with all our mind and with all our heart. When a man falls in love with a woman, there is no end to the sacrifices he will make for her. You have all heard — “I will swim the deepest ocean for you and climb the highest mountain.”

What kind of commitment and even sacrifices are you making for God? Ask yourself again — “Do I truly love God?”

One of the things that has disappeared from our society today is a genuine fear of God. If we are honest, it is disappearing among God’s people as well. Reverence is one of the characteristics that is disappearing in our churches and in the lives of many Christians as well. The one who has genuine fear of God is also one who loves God with his whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Love God with all your mind and your heart. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (James 4:8) — THINK!

George Stiekes is a retired pastor. He currently resides in North Carolina and blogs at Reverent Reflections. We recommend his ministry and republish his material by permission.