Loving God Matthew 22:37-38

[NewCreation435]

The late Ray Stedman said this in a sermon he preached on the temptations of Christ Matthew 4:1-11

"Throughout our Lord’s ministry he reminded us continually of that great principle, not only by his words, but by his deeds. He declared it again and again, and stated this is the greatest of all truths:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
This is the expression of the trust and the dependence that makes human life make sense. As we have said from time to time, it takes God to be a man as it takes Christ to be a Christian. You put Christ back into the Christian and you put God back into the man."

what does it mean to you that you are to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?

the whole sermon is here https://www.raystedman.org/thematic-studies/the-life-of-christ/the-temptation-of-christ
he has a whole web site with a lot of great sermons. I really enjoy listening to him

 

[psalms 91]

What it means I fall short of and everyone I know does as well. It means to me that out every thought, action, and desire is directed towards or by God. That everything we do and say is directed by God and that nothing deters us or turns us aside from this. We will have no fear since all our thoughts and actions are driven by God. Dont know about anyone else but I do not measure up to this.

 

[Josiah]

The late Ray Stedman said this in a sermon he preached on the temptations of Christ Matthew 4:1-11

"Throughout our Lord’s ministry he reminded us continually of that great principle, not only by his words, but by his deeds. He declared it again and again, and stated this is the greatest of all truths:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
This is the expression of the trust and the dependence that makes human life make sense. As we have said from time to time, it takes God to be a man as it takes Christ to be a Christian. You put Christ back into the Christian and you put God back into the man."

what does it mean to you that you are to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?

the whole sermon is here https://www.raystedman.org/thematic-studies/the-life-of-christ/the-temptation-of-christ
he has a whole web site with a lot of great sermons. I really enjoy listening to him

Of course, it's LAW and therefore its first purpose is to crush and show us that we DO NOT do the will of God, we "fall short" and "miss the mark" (the literal meaning of the word "sin"). And so in Justification, it shows us our failure. But it also applies to Sanctification where the issue is to GROW more and more according to the will of God, so in Sanctification, it directs us to place God #1 in our lives and to trust and follow Him in all things.

 

[NewCreation435]

Of course, it's LAW and therefore its first purpose is to crush and show us that we DO NOT do the will of God, we "fall short" and "miss the mark" (the literal meaning of the word "sin"). And so in Justification, it shows us our failure. But it also applies to Sanctification where the issue is to GROW more and more according to the will of God, so in Sanctification, it directs us to place God #1 in our lives and to trust and follow Him in all things.

I hadn't thought about it like that but your right. It's more of something to work towards and tells us where our priorities should be. I know I fall short of it.

 

[MennoSota]

I really enjoy seeing the change in Peter from before the cross and afterward. Before, he was so self-confident and wilfully determined to please God/Jesus. Afterward, he was so contrite and shaken by his failure. When the Spirit of God baptized him at Pentacost we witness a man who is controlled by the Spirit and knows that everything he is is now found in Christ alone. It is a remarkable witness to us regarding our exchanged life.
This does not mean all of our bias and prejudice is removed. Note how Paul had to rebuke Peter for such bias when Jews came and Peter was among Gentiles. This happens to us as well. The great thing is that Jesus loves us anyway.