Loving God with All Our Heart
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts." Deuteronomy 6:4 - 6 (NIV)
Reflection:
In Deuteronomy 6:4-6, we are given a profound commandment to love God with every part of our being. This passage, known as the Shema, is a central declaration of faith in Judaism and serves as a reminder of our devotion to God. It calls us to integrate our love for God into every aspect of our lives, making it the foundation of our actions, thoughts, and decisions.
In the New Testament, when Jesus was pressed by the religious elders of his time, “Which commandment is the greatest?” he answered them by quoting the Shema from Deuteronomy and then he took it a step further. Jesus told them the second commandment is like the first, “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:38-40)
The song King of My Heart by John Mark McMillan and Sarah McMillan beautifully echoes the call to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength. It reminds us that God is our refuge, our source of goodness, and the anchor in our lives.
When we declare God as the King of our hearts, we acknowledge God’s authority and surrender our lives to Christ’s guidance. The song's lyrics, "You are good, good, oh," remind us of God's inherent goodness and God’s steadfast love for us.
It is a great worship song to listen to if you haven’t heard it before. The lyrics are so encouraging to me at this moment in our collective experience. The lyrics share a desire for God to be the one who is our drive and motivation for all we do. The reason for God to be the King of our hearts is because our hearts are what gives us life. So, in turn, the hope is for God to be the ultimate One giving us life.
Take a moment to let the words of the song wash over you now (feel free to sing along if you like).
Did you notice these two lyrics that really stick out:
You are good. You’re good.
You’re never gonna let me down. Never gonna let me down.
The words, “You are good, you’re good,” represents us speaking to God—declaring that God is good, receiving God as such, and being grateful for what God does in our lives. No matter what is going on in the world around us, we can continually say and know that God is good. This is because we seek to have God be the life in our lives.
But the second part is what really gets me: “You’re never gonna let me down, never gonna let me down.” Think of this as God speaking to us – to you. It is God telling you that no matter what you have done in your life—the missteps you have made along the way—God still loves you, cares for you, and desires you as a son or daughter. God is with us, always. Nothing in this life will ever remove or destroy God's love for YOU.
How beautiful and life-giving is this reassurance of God’s love extended towards us?
As we meditate on this scripture and song, let us consider how we can make God the center of our lives. Loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength means prioritizing our relationship with God above all else. It means trusting in God’s goodness, even in challenging times, and allowing God’s love to shape our actions and attitudes towards God, ourselves, and one another.
Reflection Questions:
- How can you integrate the commandment to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength into your relationships and activities?
- In what ways can you show love and compassion to your neighbors?
- In what ways can you remind yourself of God's goodness and faithfulness throughout the day?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Thank You for being the King of our hearts and for Your unwavering love and goodness. Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, and strength. May Your commandments be ever present in our hearts, guiding our actions and decisions. Teach us to trust in Your goodness and to surrender our lives to Your will. As we go about our daily lives, remind us of Your faithfulness and fill us with Your love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.