LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD

Many people came to meet Jesus. Some were interested in simply listening to His amazing words; some wanted to see who this Man is; some others came to be healed of their sickness; a small number of people came to question Jesus, and find fault with Him. All who came to Jesus, did not come with clean hearts, and clear minds. What a tragedy it is. 

One such person, who came seeking Jesus was, a Jewish Scribes. He came to ask for clarification. The Jewish Scribe asked Jesus, “Which Is the First Commandment of All?” He appears to be sincere, as we follow the conversation, as found in Mark 12:28-34, and also in Matthew 22:34–40; Luke 10:25–28.
– “28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” – Mark 12:28-30

Jesus quotes directly from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, where we find the “Shema” – the Jewish declaration of faith. Loving our God is one of the core aspects of all God’s children. It is a distinct mark, that displays our allegiance, and demonstrates our commitment to follow the LORD.
– “4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-5
– “12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” – Deuteronomy 10:12-13
– “6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” – Deuteronomy 30:6

God desires that, our hearts be undivided, in our love and commitment to follow the LORD. That is why this command, LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD. The emphasis of such a love and its commitment is clarified clearly, when the LORD amplifies it for our clarity – “… WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIGHT.” Our love for God, has to be seen, in and through our hearts, our soul, and our might. In simple words – our love for the LORD, has to be clearly visible, in and through our whole being – in all our THOUGHTS, WORDS and DEEDS.

How are we faring dear friends, brothers and sisters? This is a question that needs to be asked as frequently as possible. Anytime we find our hearts wandering, and walking a different path, we ought to pause, and immediately seek the LORD for forgiveness, and ask for strength, to walk in His ways, with all our hearts, undivided and undiluted. Even so the LORD help us.