37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." There are many teachings on serving God and living for God in this old sinful world. There are other teachings on how to be successful in this life. Still other teachings tell us how to have joy and peace in our souls. All of these are good. But there is one thing that usually is not discussed in these teachings. That one thing is your relationship to God. Many claim to be Christians, many go to church, serve, and give to God's work but the thing that is missing is that all consuming love for God through Jesus Christ the Lord. Until one has seen and confessed the sin in his life and asked Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son to forgive that sin, one can never love God much less anyone else and therefore can never please Him at all.
The bible says in Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
John 3:18 (NKJV) He who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
After you ask Jesus for His forgiveness of your sins against a Holy God that is not the end but the beginning. Your love for God starts there at forgiveness and should then continue on till this life is over. Anything done without love is useless and profits nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love for God is what motivates us to do the things He requires. We are not to do anything for God out of compulsion. As was stated in the previous scriptures if we serve God out of anything but love it profits us nothing. Godly love is concerned about the welfare of others, not self. When you begin to serve God do you ever stop to consider why you are doing it? What is your motive? If it is not out of love for what God and His Son Jesus Christ have done for you then it is all in vain. God can not bless the service of one not fully loyal and committed to Him. So what I am saying is that the first thing we must do before we can accomplish anything for God is to draw as close to Him as we possibly can. James 4:7-8 (NKJV)
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love for God is what motivates us to do the things He requires. We are not to do anything for God out of compulsion. As was stated in the previous scriptures if we serve God out of anything but love it profits us nothing. Godly love is concerned about the welfare of others, not self. When you begin to serve God do you ever stop to consider why you are doing it? What is your motive? If it is not out of love for what God and His Son Jesus Christ have done for you then it is all in vain. God can not bless the service of one not fully loyal and committed to Him. So what I am saying is that the first thing we must do before we can accomplish anything for God is to draw as close to Him as we possibly can. James 4:7-8 (NKJV)
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
All this is to say the first thing God wants from you is all of you fully committed and faithful to Him in spite of everything else. Think of it. If all Christians were fully in love with God what a different world this would be. To fully love God we must make every effort to read His word daily because it is more important than anything else as it guides our lives in the way God would have us go. Talking to God in prayer is a must if we are to maintain a our love and close relationship to God. Taking time to listen to God speak to us is most essential in loving Him with all our being. Only when we have sought God with all our hearts will we ever accomplish great things for God. Remember the scripture we just read says as you attempt to draw close to God, the promise is He will draw close to you. If you are reading this and you know in your heart that you do not have that close intimate relationship to God, ask Jesus to forgive you and then make every effort to draw close to God through the power of His Holy Spirit. You will find yourself more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ our Lord. You will live in more victory over the problems of this life than you ever thought possible and you will find yourself accomplishing great things for God. If you want the best life has to offer and you want to please God you will obey His first and greatest commandment. When you love God with all you are, you will experience more of His love in return. And of course those around you will also benefit from it too because you will be loving them as yourself and your reward will be great in heaven. As you " Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10 (NKJV)
What have you got to lose but your worries, doubts, and fears? You will gain exaltation from the Lord Himself. What more could you possibly want?
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
All this is to say the first thing God wants from you is all of you fully committed and faithful to Him in spite of everything else. Think of it. If all Christians were fully in love with God what a different world this would be. To fully love God we must make every effort to read His word daily because it is more important than anything else as it guides our lives in the way God would have us go. Talking to God in prayer is a must if we are to maintain a our love and close relationship to God. Taking time to listen to God speak to us is most essential in loving Him with all our being. Only when we have sought God with all our hearts will we ever accomplish great things for God. Remember the scripture we just read says as you attempt to draw close to God, the promise is He will draw close to you. If you are reading this and you know in your heart that you do not have that close intimate relationship to God, ask Jesus to forgive you and then make every effort to draw close to God through the power of His Holy Spirit. You will find yourself more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ our Lord. You will live in more victory over the problems of this life than you ever thought possible and you will find yourself accomplishing great things for God. If you want the best life has to offer and you want to please God you will obey His first and greatest commandment. When you love God with all you are, you will experience more of His love in return. And of course those around you will also benefit from it too because you will be loving them as yourself and your reward will be great in heaven. As you " Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10 (NKJV)
What have you got to lose but your worries, doubts, and fears? You will gain exaltation from the Lord Himself. What more could you possibly want?
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