“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38 NLT)
What does it mean to love anything or anyone? There are people I love very much, but how do you really measure love? Isn’t it primarily based on commitment to that person? There are people I love very much, but I wouldn’t want them to live with me, loan them money or even lend them my car. But where do you draw the line?
With Jesus you don’t! That’s the point! Loving with all your heart doesn’t set limits, it’s what allowed nails to be driven in the hands and feet of our Savior and a crown of thorns to be placed on His holy, sinless head. He asks us to do nothing more than what He did – love His Father without reservation or restriction. So, what might that look like in real life, in real time?
Why don’t we ask Jim Elliot, or John Allen Chau, or Charlie Kirk or any of the millions of others who have given their lives over the years because they loved Jesus more than they loved their own lives. But while that’s arguably the most dramatic and final way to express our love, on some levels, it’s not the only way and, if we’re honest, it may not be the hardest way.
We’re quick to think or even say, “Sure, I’d give my life for Jesus!” Then we head to the bar to enjoy time with our buds or head off to meet our girlfriend when our wife is at work or in other ways clearly violate our “love” for Jesus. Talk is cheap, but love is expensive, hard, and trying. So, how do we know our love is centered on Jesus?
Who or what do you think about the most? Talk about? Talk with? Long to learn about? Share with others? For whom do you spend your money?
When my first child, my daughter, was born she was the most beautiful sight my eyes had ever seen. I couldn’t stop looking at her, taking her picture, making movies of her every move. (Want to see them? I still have them. 😊) From the moment of her birth she was the focus of my energy, plans, desires in terms of wanting to hold her, be with her, talk to her, cradle her, watch her sleep, feed her, in short, my world revolved around this new life that stole my heart and captured my mind.
But how can we devote all that time and energy and effort to our love for Jesus? Even when I had my daughter, I was a full-time Seminary student and worked full time. It doesn’t exempt you from being involved in life, it only keeps you focused so you don’t waste time on unnecessary things. As parents, everything we do, every plan we make, every dollar we spend, every trip to the grocery store we make, every vacation we plan revolves around this new life which has become our responsibility.
In much the same way we keep our focus and attention on pleasing Jesus and doing everything in a manner that would reflect our love for and devotion to Him. But how do we know what that should look like? We spend much time in conversation with Him as we listen to Him through His instruction manual, the Holy Bible, and speak with Him in prayer. We ask Him and others who are further along than we are, questions, we share our concerns, seek His forgiveness when we fail, treat Him as we would a trusted confidant, because He must become that to and for us.
My love for Jesus has evolved over the years as I’ve learned to receive His love in more personal ways, and to express my love TO Him in more personal ways. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m far from perfect and I’m confident there are lots of men and women of God who walk more closely with Jesus than I do, but my heart’s desire in this season of my life is to be the most like Him as I can possibly be and if that costs me my life, I’m all for it. I’ll just get home that much more quickly!
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 