Love The Lord You God, With All Your Heart, Soul & Mind
To Love Is A Decision & An Action
MATHEW 22:37-40
“Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.””
Matthew 22:37, 39-40 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/mat.22.37,39-40.nkjv
These words are more than a commandment to love, they are a whole way of life. They are Jesus way and are the foundation of all God’s Laws, for on these two commandments hang all the Law and prophets.
Love is far more than a feeling or kind words, it is an action of good and care toward others. It is having the desire to selflessly help with no expectation of something in return, even at a high price.
It means to see the needs and troubles of all others, including our enemies, as important as one’s own
Jesus paid a high price for you when He died on a cross. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
John 15:13 NKJV
But He didn’t die just for you alone, but for the whole world and all people (JOHN 3:16), for we are all in the same boat, sinners in need of a Saviour.
He wants no one to perish, but for all to turn to Him in repentance (2 PETER 3:9), and that mindset should be the mindset of all believers.
Jesus went on to say, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.”
John 15:14-17 NKJV
My brethren, if you really love God, you will have a strong desire to serve Him without any expectation of something in return. In the same way, if you really love your neighbours, wherever they are in the world, even if they are your enemies (MATHEW 5:4), you will be ready to help them in their hour of need without any expectation of something in return.
My brethren, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
I John 4:20-21 NKJV
We need not die for our neighbours, Christ was the Lamb what was slain. He is the ultimate sacrifice that covers all the sin of the world, but we can sacrifice some of our time and resources to serve the Lord and help those in need.
To love your neighbour as ourselves, we must make their well-being as important as our own.
When we are hungry we eat. In the same way, when someone is hungry and has no provision, we believers, when led by the Holy Spirit, are called to feed him and cover his needs.
But however, giving from the passions of the flesh is foolishness and may lead us into financial collapse and become overwhelmed by the weight of their troubles.
We are not called to subsidies lazy people and their extravagant lifestyles and habits, but rather to help them through difficult times.
Paul said, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.”
II Thessalonians 3:10-13 NKJV
Foolish giving may not only lead one into poverty and hardship, but can also undermine the work the Lord is doing in others.
Giving is not always about finance, but must always be by leading of the Holy Spirit.
It could be prayer, some physical help, or food, whatever the Lord leads us. But it is by doing good that we shine for Christ, draw others to Him, glorifying our Father in heaven.
My beloved, If we could all put these two great commandments into practice, this world would very quickly become a better place to live.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
