Love God With AllSample

Day 5: Love God With All Your Strength

When you think about strength, what is the first thing that comes to mind? A bodybuilder? A mother? A father? A grandparent? We tend to use “strong” in a lot of ways—a person can be strong physically, emotionally, verbally, and the list goes on.

In Scripture, “The Most Important Command” as we read in Matthew comes from Deuteronomy in a passage that is called the Shema. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew originally and the word they used for strength is “Me’od” which is an adjective meaning “very” or “much.” So, as we talk about strength here, really, we are being told to love God with all of our “muchness.” This means that we should devote every possibility, opportunity, and capacity that we have to honoring God and loving our neighbors.

Actions speak louder than words. This is something that people say a lot, and as Christians, we have to constantly think about how we are loving God with our actions toward ourselves, others, and Him! When you feel a nudge to go sit with someone who is sitting alone at lunch, or to help someone who dropped something in the hallway, do you go? This is loving God with your strength.

The good news is that you don’t have to be a physically strong person to do this; all you have to do is listen to what God says and act. Easier said than done, I know, but wouldn’t you rather get to engage in a cool moment and possibly be able to tell someone about Jesus than to ignore it and never find out what God could have done through you in that moment?

Never think for one second that God can’t or doesn’t want to use you. Throughout the entire Bible, we see God use the most unlikely people to accomplish amazing things for Him! All you have to do is be available and willing! Remember, God didn’t only give this command to some people; rather, He gave it to all of us, and YOU are included in that!

Next Steps

Think about your life. What do you do in your life that points people back to God without you having to say words? How are you serving Him and living your life to bring Him glory? Write down some ways you show people that you are a Christ follower, then look at your list and ask yourself if you would notice a difference in someone if they did the same things you're doing. If not, pray and ask God to show you what more He wants you to do. This could be volunteering at church, or it could be praying every morning before school that God would open your eyes to a classmate who needs to know Him! Be ready to MOVE and ACT on these things!