Loving God with Integrity
"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘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 mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 NIV
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus’ answer was clear: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Loving God is not about a part of us—it is about all of us. It is a daily choice to draw closer to Him in every aspect of life.
With the Heart – the Core of Who We Are
The heart is the wellspring of life (Prov. 4:23). What fills our heart eventually overflows in our words, actions, and desires. To love God with the heart means guarding it against things that defile, and aligning our affections with what God delights in.
With the Soul – the Seat of Worship
Our soul is the essence of our being—our mind, will, and emotions. To love God with the soul is to offer Him not just moments of worship but our very lives. It means surrendering our will to His, finding joy in His presence, and allowing Him to shape our character.
With the Mind – the Gift of Intellect
Loving God is not blind devotion; it involves our thoughts and reasoning. Paul reminds us to “set our minds on things above” (Col. 3:2) and to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom. 12:2). To love God with the mind is to think His thoughts, seek His wisdom, and let His Word guide our decisions.
Living with Integrity
God calls us to love Him with integrity—bringing heart, soul, and mind together in a life wholly devoted to Him. This means living authentically, not with divided loyalties, but with a wholehearted love that flows into every choice we make.
🔹 Reflection:
Is there an area of my life—heart, soul, or mind—that I have held back from God?
🔹 Prayer:
Lord, help me to love You with all that I am. Guard my heart, purify my soul, renew my mind, and teach me to live with integrity before You. Amen.
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