The HeartSample

The Heart 

By Bryan Craig

SCRIPTURES: 

“Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” Matthew 22:37-38 NIV

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

THOUGHT: 

Jesus encourages us that a pure heart should be full of love, first for God and then, for others. I’ve had men tell me that they were not sure they loved God.  So, we take them on a journey to know how much God loves them, and we see a purification process begin which ends up producing great love from men to their Creator. Jesus commands us to love God, but He also helps us fulfill this command as He comes into us by His Spirit. The love between a man and God, however, is always too big to be contained in a man and flows like living water to those around him. God always has work for us to do. No matter the work, if we do it with a loving heart, God will bless it.

APPLICATION: 

Do you love God? Do you love your neighbor? Do you understand how much God loves you? Jesus said an intimate, abiding relationship with Him would bear fruit, and the primary fruit is Love. So, if our love is lacking, we need to examine our relationship with Him. Write a letter to God, asking Him to show you whether you are abiding in Him and asking Him for help. As you journal, you are taking a step toward abiding.

RESPONSE: 

As God shows you how much He loves you, and love wells up within you, give that love away to everyone you meet today. Love people around you in the way they need to be loved, with no strings attached. Do random acts of kindness. Try being kind and generous.

Write down the results of your love experiment in your journal. Thank and Praise God, the author of Love.