PBPC Daily - Wednesday, May 6

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday.

Today, we continue with our theme of love. When Jesus was asked by the religious leaders of his time what he considered to be the greatest commandment, he answered by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4,

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30

We could spend time discussing the meanings of heart, soul, mind, and strength - what are the differences, where does one end and the next begin, and so on - but the clear and obvious meaning of this commandment is that we are to love God with all that we are and all that we have. Here are some implications of this command to love:

• This is what we were created for - it is the purpose of our lives. Loving God is our highest calling and more important than anything else we can do with our lives.
• We love because God first loved us (see yesterday). God is love.
• Although there are a million reasons for our love to flow out to God - gratitude, awe, worship - our love is more than an emotion. Our love for God is something that we choose, a continuous act of the will. This is love as action.
• This love for God becomes the motivation for everything we do in our lives, and for how we do it.
• Loving God is an adventure that has the potential to transform the way we live our lives.

Today, reflect on how you might love God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Ask God how you can love Him with every part of who you are. And consider how you can love God through your work and activities today.

Have a blessed day,

Pastor Chris