Matthew
22:37-40 (NIV) Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the
first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor
as yourself.’
When we love God with
all of our heart, soul and mind, we declare that we have no other gods or idols
in our life. God alone is worthy of our worship, admiration and affection.
Everything and everyone else pales in comparison to this great and loving God!
This total heart, soul, and mind devotion to God encapsulates our desire to
obey all of his commands. And because this loving God loves me, I overflow with
love and generosity toward others. I do not need to control though lies, or
steal from others to provide for myself. I do not spend my days wishing for
that which others have. I am satisfied. I can love with God's love. When God is
in the center of my life I can rest. When God is the center of our lives, we
learn what love really is and how to love unselfishly.
I do
not believe in love
at first sight…or second sight, for that matter. You can not love what you do not know. I completely agree
that you can fall head over heels in lust
at first sight…but not love. Lust is a powerful, driving force that many
mistake for love. Lust makes you blind to everything but flesh-driven desires.
Many a couple rushed down the aisle or into the first convenient bed, consumed
with lust and declaring it love.
A broken heart, broken relationships and marriages are often the result of misguided lust inspired emotion and decisions. God gives
us many examples of who and how to truly love. True love leads to strong relationships where lust can enhance but is not the foundation. When pursued out of order, relationships build on the sandy shore of lust, are rarely strong enough to withstand the storms of life. Passions fade and commitments get fuzzy.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love is patient, love
is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not
dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no
record of wrongs.
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