What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?
Here's the answer:
This means that we are to love God more than anything or anyone else.
It might seem hard to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, but you can with God’s help. The concept of loving God fully is presented in the Old Testament. To not love the Lord in this way is a sin. Jesus reinstates the necessity of loving God above all else during His ministry. Jesus said loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:36-37).
This command seems to be impossible to obey. That’s because, in the natural state of man, it is impossible. Jesus is helping the religious leaders understand that loving God this much is impossible in our own power. As Christians, we have been cleansed from sin and we now have the Holy Spirit. He helps us love God.
Do you struggle to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Don’t worry, we all do. Ask God to help you love Him fully. Jesus can help us in our struggles. He helped a man overcome disbelief (Mark 9:24). Similarly, Jesus can help you love Him fully.
Throughout your life, you will grow to love God more. You will have tough times, but you will have happy times too. Just like there will be sunny days, there will also be rainy days. It’s normally on those rainy days when we grow to love God more. No matter where life takes you, God will be with you through it all. As you start to know Him better and learn about Him in the Bible, you will grow to love Him more with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Bible Truth
"Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is the one and only God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
"'Teacher,' he asked, 'which is the most important commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind'" (Matthew 22:36-37).
"He answered, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength and with all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself'" (Luke 10:27).
