LOVE GOD
Today’s Scripture: “’And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” Mark 12:30, ESV
Theme: Loving God with all your soul means your whole being is focused on pleasing Him.
TOO FOCUSED?
Have you ever been so completely absorbed in a book that you missed the bus? I have. The schoolbooks were lined up, the kids off playing, while we waited for our bus to pull up. I was sitting on my stack, reading a book. When the bus arrived, the kids came rushing back to grab their books and file onto the bus. And I missed it all. I sat there through all the commotion and had to get a ride home with a teacher!
Maybe you are competitive, and you smashed the opposition during a board game, only to later realize you also smashed your opponent’s feelings. This kind of focus is important in the Olympics, but sometimes harmful in our everyday lives.
LOVE GOD
The Apostle Paul felt that he was giving it all: “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (Philippians 2:17, ESV). His entire life was given in service of God. That seems overwhelming, but you and I are called to the same standard!
To love God with all your soul means your very being, your very breath. It means all that you are is turned to all that He is. It means obedience rather than my decision, generosity over my extraneous wants. It means that I turn to the Word of God rather than a novel or the news for Truth. It means all my life, poured out for all He asks, no matter the cost.
IN EVERY WAY
In every moment, in every way, our focus should be on God’s plan and direction for that interaction, that conversation, or that decision. His way of doing things should be our standard, His Word our procedure manual, His Spirit our Guide and Teacher. When our thoughts tell us we are in charge, it means a deliberate submission to His plan and desires.
Jesus is our example. He gave up everything. He prayed before every decision. He asked for God’s power for every miracle. He walked in the Father’s will, completely obedient and completely in tune. He was tempted in every way, just as we are, but He was so focused on His Father that He was able to resist anything outside God’s will.
Thankfully, Jesus is also our High Priest. He understands and intercedes for us when we mess up. He is on our side and His Word says to draw close with confidence, because He will give us mercy and grace.
Make It Personal: We should love God because He first loved us. But we often forget the completely selfless focus of Jesus. He came to accomplish our salvation by obeying everything God asked of Him. Because of that, He bled and died for us. There could be no greater reason we should give Him our all. Ask God for focus to follow Him with every breath, thought, and action this week.
Read: Hebrews 5:14-16; 1 John 4:19
Weekly Memory Verse: “Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”’” Mark 12:29-30, ESV