HOW BEST TO LOVE GOD?

19th OCTOBER 2021

“The Master was asked, which is the greatest commandment in the law?  Jesus answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with thy entire mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like, unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” – Matthew 22:36-40

 

Often, we hear people say, I love God, or I love Jesus.  At other times, we listen to preachers telling their congregations to love Jesus. How best to do that has been an issue to most Christians. How do we express love to God or Jesus? You can’t see God or Jesus; So how would you demonstrate your love to them?

 The above scenario calls for our understanding of specific basic facts about life. First, we have to realise that the spirit of God finds expression in man. We must therefore see the face of God in every human being. In any event, the scripture says we are made in the image and likeness of God. That, in essence, refers to the spiritual nature of God in us. We have to translate “loving God” to loving our fellow human beings to pass the test of loving God.

You will recall that three times the Master asked Peter, “Do you love me”? Three times Peter answered, “yes Lord, you know all things, and you know that I love thee”) But Jesus was fast to add, “Then feed my sheep” (John 21:16). By that, the Master revealed that only through the act of service to others can we truly demonstrate our love for God. Therefore, it would appear that, on judgment day, our works of service will be recalled and examined as a basis for gaining eternal life in heaven.

The word of God today introduces us to a two–in–one commandment of God. Jesus says all the commandments are summarized in these two commandments. Number 1 is that we have to love God with our soul and entire being. Number 2 is that we have to love our neighbour as ourselves. To love God with our soul and everything is to be ready to make sacrifices – up to the point of death on behalf of others, all for the sake of God. To love your neighbours as yourself does not mean that you have first to love yourself before you think of loving another. If that were to be the case, you would never love anyone, for your comfort will always come first, and resources are scarce! But that verse teaches that you must first put yourself in the condition of others and then decide whether what you are doing to them is good enough for you if you were to be in their situation. In other words, put yourself in the shoes of others!

The eternal life we seek in heaven as Christians will elude us if we cannot obey these two – in – one commandments of God (Matthew 25:35-40). That is because admission into heaven will be conducted based on how much love you gave to others! (Matthew 25:35-40). Also, on earth, you reap the quantity of love you extend to others! As you sow, so you reap!

PRAYERS

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I thank you for your word, for I am strengthened by it. Father, today I receive the strength to overcome every weakness that would not enable me to express love and affection to others. AMEN.

FURTHER READING: Matthew 25:35-40