Day #305 - The Greatest Commandment
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38 NKJV
Do you love tournaments?
I love a good tournament. I grew up in a sports loving family. My Dad played in softball tournaments through a lot of my years growing up. I like watching the playoffs in college and professional sports. There was something invigorating or devastating about watching your favorite teams play to see who would be the greatest. There is a desire in us to know who or what is the greatest.
Jesus taught in Matthew’s gospel what the greatest commandment is. He said the first and greatest commandment is loving God with all our heart, soul and mind. That is the language of “the Presence.” Life is ultimately about loving God. Everything we do ought to flow out of love for God.
Loving the Lord our God is the first and greatest commandment not just because its better than other commandments when you compare them head to head. It’s the greatest because it includes all of the commandments. When we love God the most we are fulfilling all the other commandments. We can’t love God and lie or love God and steal. If we are actively loving God with all of our heart, soul and mind, then we obey Him.
Being a person of “the Presence” is being a person who prioritizes loving God more than anything else. What a great love this is with all of our heart, soul and mind. This great kind of love required is because our God is so great and so worthy. This is about our devotion and affection for Him over everything else.
God is worthy of love that is all in spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Our worship, our study and our spiritual habits can all be used to help us cultivate a closer relationship and intimacy with God. The way we conduct ourselves when we flee temptation, resist the evil one and obey the Scriptures should all be motivated by this great love for God.
Great and awesome God, my Lord and King, may I love You with all my heart, soul and mind! Let my love for You be first and most. Let my affection and devotion grow for You. There is no one like You who is worthy of all my love. Let my life be pleasing to You. I love You! In Jesus great name, amen!