Jul 17, 20192 min
Updated: Jul 18, 2019
From: Unstuck: Your Life. God's Design. Real Change.
By: Arnie Cole and Michael Ross
Today's passage
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel 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.'"
Reflect
-What does it mean to love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength?
-What would my life look like if I lived out this commandment every day? -Would my life change significantly? Would anyone notice this change?
-What's one small step I can take to move closer to loving God this way?
At first glance it sounds easy, doesn't it? Jesus summarizes all Ten Commandments into two: love God, love your neighbor. How hard can love be, right? What's clear in these verses, though, is that Jesus doesn't want a mundane, everyday kind of love; He wants a game-changing love. He wants us to love Him with every fiber of our beings, every bit of our essence; not just in our hearts, but with our minds, too, and with all of our strength. What does this all-encompassing love really look like? And is it even possible--can we ever open ourselves to that depth and breadth? Jesus tells us yes. It's possible, because all things are possible through Him.
Respond
Ask for change: Lord, I want to love You this way, with every bit of my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Show me the way. Take my hand and guide me toward a deeper love for You.
Consider what's real: Loving others is a real and tangible way not only to demonstrate your love for God, but to grow that love, too. Today, ask yourself periodically throughout the day if you are loving others as God desires. Before considering a course of action, ask yourself if that action will demonstrate love for God and love for others.
Additional verses to consider: John 3:16-17
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