Most of my team has had the opportunity to preach, but last week it was my turn. I wasn’t really sure what I was supposed to say. The night prior, Chris and I prayed that God would place something on my heart. What did God want His people to hear? How did He want to speak through a small town Oregon girl/middle school science teacher?
The next morning, I woke up with a verse repeating loudly in my head. And this sermon (with a few changes and shortened a bit) was born:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
Seems easy enough, right?
However, the verse doesn’t just say “Love the Lord your God.” And, it doesn’t even just say, “Love the Lord your God with your heart, soul, mind and strength.” No. Instead, it is found in multiple books of the Bible and says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
The repetition of “all” before each word is crucial. All of it.
All of your heart. All of your soul. All of your mind. And all of your strength. This includes every piece of your being – nothing is left out.
In the Bible, this is called the Greatest Commandment. The second is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” However, we can’t truly love our neighbor until we love God first.
So, if loving God is the greatest and most important thing, then it is what we are created for. Loving God is our purpose in life.
What then does this look like? How do we love God – the Creator of everything? What do we give a God who has everything and made everything?
As I thought about this, I kept thinking about my earthly father. How many of you remember trying to buy a birthday present for your dad when you were a kid? I never knew what to get my dad. Perhaps you even had to borrow money from your dad to buy a present for him? One year I found something he already owned, wrapped it up and gave it to him for his birthday, thinking “He must like it if he already owns it!”
The relationship of a young child with his or her father is a picture of how we are called to love God, our heavenly father. In the same way that a young child has nothing to offer their father, besides what that father has already provided them, we too stand humble and empty handed before our God. So how do we love God? What do we give? We love God by reflecting His image, using His gifts to bring him glory, worshiping Him, having a relationship with Him and carrying out His work.
Show God love by reflecting His image and imitating his actions.
When my parents brought me into this world, I had nothing to offer them but dirty diapers and a snotty nose. My dad wasn’t waiting around thinking to himself, “Oh, I can’t wait until my daughter grows up, gets a job and can get me a gift!”
Instead, my parents loved me, cared for me and met my every need. They took joy in knowing that I look like both of them.
Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”
We are created in the physical image of God. God takes joy in this!
Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” We are not only created to physically resemble God, but to mirror His character and imitate His actions – as shown to us by his son, Jesus.
When we look and act like God, we are showing Him love. We love God by respecting, honoring and obeying Him. Let me be clear. We do not EARN God’s love by doing these things. We cannot earn something that we are being given for free. Instead, we show God we love Him by becoming more like Him.
Show God love by reflecting His image and imitating His actions.
We can also show God love by using the gifts that He gives to us.
My parents always knew what I needed even before I did and would meet my needs, even if I didn’t ask for them. When my birthday came around, they liked to know what it was I wanted. They wanted to give me good things that I would use and enjoy. I remember begging my parents for a certain sweater one year. When I got it, I hardly ever wore it – I did not show them love by using the gift they gave me.
God loves to receive – and is worthy of receiving – praise for all of our needs that He meets. But He is far greater than just meeting our needs. He also gives us several of our wants. He pours out blessings to us – we show Him love by praising Him for these blessings.
We show God love by enjoying and using His gifts. He pours them out and loves to see us use and enjoy them. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” As Christians, we are given spiritual gifts, not just to have, but to use. It brings God glory when we use the gifts He has given: of prophecy, wisdom, healing, tongues, miracles, etc. Just as my parents wanted me to use the gifts they gave me and I showed them love when I used their gifts, God wants us to use our Spiritual gifts. When we use these Spiritual gifts, God receives glory.
Reflect God’s image and imitate Him. Use the gifts God gives you.
God also receives glory and love when we praise him.
I remember the first time Chris and I mutually said we loved each other. And, even though he’s told me every day that he loves me, I never grow tired of hearing it. I want to be told all the time.
Through song, dance, words, pictures, whatever it may be, praise God and let Him know how much you love Him! Imagine the joy it brings to a parent the first time their child expresses their love. How much more does it show God love when we tell Him we love Him!
Reflect God’s image and imitate Him. Use the gifts God gives you. Worship Him daily.
Show God love by having a relationship with him.
When I went to college, I was the last kid to leave the house and my parents had a very empty home. After college, I moved several thousand miles away from my parents to become a teacher. For Christmas, all they want is for me to come home and be with them. Now that I am even further away in Peru, they don’t want a keychain/souvenir from Haunchaco (a beach here in Peru) – they want to receive emails and phone calls from me to hear my voice. What they desire is a relationship – my parents really don’t want gifts. What they want is me.
God wants to be first in our lives. Where our treasure is, our heart will lie also. How do you know if you love God above all else? Look at where you spend your time and money. What consumes your thoughts every day? Does it bring glory to God?
Are you having a relationship with God, or are you having a relationship with your TV and your stuff?
Reflect God’s image and imitate Him. Use the gifts God gives you. Worship Him daily. Have a relationship with Him.
Lastly, when Jesus ascended back to heaven, he left some very clear instructions to carry out His work.
In Mark 16:15 we are given the Great Commission, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
“Go” is a command. It does not say “consider proclaiming the gospel to the whole creation.” Nor does it say, “It would be nice if you went…” God tells us to GO. However, we did not have to leave the United States to carry out these words. The Kingdom of God can be advanced right where you are – in your workplace, in your home, in the restaurant down the street. As long as you GO and actively proclaim the gospel to the whole creation, you are loving God and carrying out His work.
Additionally, John 14:12 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
We are called to continue carrying out God’s work and bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. Again, this is not said in wishy-washy language. Jesus says we WILL do the works – even greater than the works that Jesus did in his time on earth. The same Holy Spirit that was within Jesus is within us. The same power that Jesus had to perform miracles resides in us. We believe these words which is why we are in Peru.
Reflect God’s image and imitate Him. Use the gifts God gives you. Worship God daily. Pursue a relationship with God. And, carry out God’s work.
I pray that you are encouraged as you seek to “love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and all of your mind and all of your strength” in your own life.
