Focus on Loving with All the Heart

“So he answered and said, ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” — Luke 10:27 NKJV

It’s one of those things that’s easy to say, but is it really all that easy to do? I think of how many times I tell my grandfather or my sister, “I love you with all my heart,” or sign a note with, “all my love.” And yet, how well do I show them I love them, every moment of every day. What about when I allow my annoyances to overflow my heart and my words or put my wants above their needs? Is that love?

“(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord…is a jealous God)” — Exodus 34:14 NKJV

How many things take up residence in my heart that are not compatible with loving God or obeying HIs commandments, the one way he’s told us to show Him love? [Jn. 14:15] When I fall in love with media or books or entertainment that I feel Jesus wouldn’t read or approve of, is that showing Him love? When I get jealous of other people or covet things I don’t have, not only am I disobeying God’s commandments, but I’m putting love of those things which I do not possess above love for God and gratitude for all He has provided. There’s nothing wrong with desiring beautiful, good things, or with asking for them, but allowing it to sour the joy I have and shatter my contentment is wrong.

It’s a matter of the importance we place on things, the time we spend devoted to those things. The things I love to do, you’ll catch me doing every chance I get. The people I love, I’ll go out of my way to do things for them, even if those things cause me petty difficulties or don’t particularly please my own wishes. Because I love them, I want them to be happy, to have good things, to have an easy path where I can make it that way. I make the things I love more important than other things and more important than myself.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21 NKJV

Pay attention to what’s in your heart each moment, and seek to turn it to the love of God and pursuit of bringing Him glory.

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