Love God

Loving Jesus is more than following rules. It's more than doing all the right things. It's more than loving the unlovely. It's more than following the 10 Commandments, being a good Christian, going to church or even reading your Bible.

I've been struggling with this concept this week while reading Mark Batterson's book All in.

To be ALL IN he suggests, "We don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God.

I'd like to go slightly different route here. Being All In means that my heart is completely His because Jesus is my one true love. This affects everything in my life.

How do I love Jesus with everything I am?

It's no surprise that Jesus addressed this as did the old testament. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:29-31

It is pretty straightforward, but not easy! Maybe that's why it's called the greatest commandment!

Love God

With all of your heart

With all of your mind

With all of your soul

With all of your strength

Looking at this list I am slightly terrified.

How do you Love God with everything you are?

How do you love someone who you cannot see?

How do you love someone who is not tangible?

There is hope when we love God.

Romans tells us that when we love God He works for our good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose Romans 8:28

This helps me want to love Him more! He is working for me as I grow in my love for Him.

I was watching the series A.D. this week. Where Saul and Peter are discussing Saul's conversion to Christianity. Peter says to Saul, "I was with Jesus, he was my friend, my Lord. I love him.  Saul then turns to Peter and tells him, "I have seen him and now I feel him, here as he touches his heart.

I was moved by that little gesture because that's how I feel. I may not have ever seen Jesus visibly, but I know He is with me because I feel him with me. He has made His presence known by giving me peace and joy.

You may not feel Him or His presence. If that is so I want to encourage you today to ask Him to make His presence known to you. The bible promises that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. James 4:8

Join me on the next post to look at what the bible says about loving God with all of our hearts.