We are seeing signs of the changing seasons. Maybe the heat of summer is subsiding. After I had this thought, I noticed the five day forecast is for temperatures in the mid-nineties, and zero chances of rain. I must have read the signs wrong. Oh well, there have been a few cooler days lately, for which we are thankful.
In my message this week, based on Matthew 22:34-40, I asked this question: What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind? From the very beginning of God’s relationship with His people Israel, he commanded them to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Deuteronomy 6:5). In the Matthew passage, Jesus calls this the “greatest commandment.”
The answer to “what does it mean to love God in this way”, has a far deeper meaning than I suspect most people realize. I found the following in Adam Clarke’s Commentary, written around 1800. I will shorten his comments due to space limitations.
“The person who loves the Lord in this way is ready to give up, do, or suffer anything in order to please and glorify Him. He is ready to give up life, endure all sorts of torments, and to be deprived of all kinds of comforts rather than dishonor God. That person exerts all the powers of his body and soul in the service of God. He sacrifices his time, his body, and uses all his possessions for the honor of God. He applies himself to only know God and His holy will–having his mind continually fixed upon God.”
As I read Adam Clarke’s comments, I realized how far I am from this kind of love for God and for the Lord Jesus. I also realized that the only way we are to attain any measure of this kind of love, is by the power of God’s Holy Spirit within us. Will we let the Spirit begin to influence us to this extent?
I wonder,
Pastor Jerry
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