Even after the recent passing of Olivia Newton-John, you may be showing your age if you get the cultural reference in today’s title! But have you ever been head over heels in love?
Read Matthew 22:34-40. When you are totally in love with someone, the relationship almost consumes you. It takes up much of your time, and certainly takes over your thoughts. In many ways, this is what Jesus means when he says:
Matthew 22:37 NLT
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind’.
In response to the question, “Which is the greatest commandment”, Jesus replies, it’s not really about all the commandments and which one is the most important. What matters most is your loving relationship with the one true God.
And that relationship requires everything of you: all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. In other words, you must be totally devoted to God. The key is to notice how many times the word “all” is mentioned in that one sentence: all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.
This repetition reinforces the view that what is needed is total devotion. There is nothing half-hearted in our love for God. This is total allegiance. If you want to look for examples of the love Jesus is looking for then read about the widow who gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44) or Mary, who washed Jesus’ feet (John 12:1-11).
God must be first in our lives. Not second, third or fiftieth. The whole of the Bible can be summed up in the commandment to love God and to love him before all others. We must love him more than anything or anyone else. Is the purpose of your life to live for God? Do you love him? Not perfectly, because we all fail at times. But completely, totally, with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind? I hope and pray that your answer is yes!
THINK IT OVER
• How do you know what your true purpose in life is?
