Today’s theme of “have a deep love for God” is appropriate for many reasons, but one stands out, which is, the love of many people for God has become superficial.
How can believers grow in their love for God for it to shape and guide our lives should be a very pressing matter. Let us reflect on what it truly means to have a deep love for God, and how this love can bring us closer to him and lead us on the path to a more fulfilling life as believers.
» Thursday, 2nd February 2023 | I Stand In The Gap Daily Devotional | It’s Great to Have Deep Love for God
The daily devotional theme for yesterday was “asking and receiving from God“ and today’s is “have a deep love for God”.
Anchor verse of the day:
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
In our anchor verse of the day, Moses is instructing the Israelites on how to live a life devoted to God. He lays emphasis on the importance of loving God with all their heart, soul, and strength and how beneficial it is for them to teach these principles to their children.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Themes in Deuteronomy 6:4-5:
- Love for God: From the gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus told us that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the foundation of all true obedience and devotion to God.
- Obedience to God: We also know from the Bible that the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. This love is expressed through obedience to God’s commands.
- Wholeheartedness: The command to love God with all your very being, requires a complete and wholehearted commitment, where you literally pour your love out. This means putting God first in all we do.
- Passing on God’s Commands: The command to love God and follow his commands is not just for the individual but is also to be passed on to future generations. This means teaching the love for God to our children and those we encounter.
Background to Deuteronomy 6:4-5
The book of Deuteronomy is a collection of speeches given by Moses to the Israelites just before they entered the Promised Land. Our anchor verse of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 is part of the Jewish prayer called Shema, which summarizes the Jewish belief in the unity of God and their commitment to serving God.
The verse is considered central to the Jewish faith and is recited daily in the morning and evening prayers.
Similar verses to Deuteronomy 6:4-5:
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:37
This verse is a direct quote from the Savior Jesus himself. Here, He is reiterating the importance of having a deep love for God. That is the all-encompassing nature of the love that we are to have for God.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
Mark 12:30
Mark 12:30 also stresses the importance of loving God with every aspect of one’s being. Just like Deuteronomy 6:4-5, this verse reminds us that our love for God should be the primary focus of our very being.
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A closer look at our anchor verse of the day should sound like a reminder of the centrality of God in the lives of His people and the importance of passing down their faith to future generations.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 continues to be relevant for all Christians today as it underscores the need for a deep and abiding love for our God and the desire to share it with others.
As Christians, we are called to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul, and might. This should serve as a reminder to prioritize our love for God above all other things and to make it the central focus of our lives.
And since it is stated somewhere in the Bible that we are created in the image of God, the implication thereof is for us to extend the love we have to all persons.
In the current Christian dispensation, this means continually striving to deepen our personal relationship with God. This can be done through prayers, studying and reading the Bible, and doing the will of God.
It also means being mindful of the things that can distract us from our love for God, such as material possessions or worldly pursuits, and making the conscious decision to put God first in all things.
By having this deep love for God, we will be able to live a fulfilling and meaningful life as Christians. Beloved, this will bring glory to His name.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts, deep love, and the thirst to love you more. We are grateful for the teachings in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 which remind us to love you with all our heart, soul, and strength.
Dear Father, we pray that you help us to keep these words close to our hearts, to always have them on our minds, and to speak of them to all those we encounter on this earthly journey, including our children and families.
Father, in the name of Jesus, continue to strengthen our love for you and let it grow deeper and more steadfast with each passing day. Give us help through the Holy Spirit for us to be able to serve you with joy, to trust in your promises, and to follow your ways in all that we do.
Thank you for the gift of salvation, your Word, and your mercy, and for the privilege of calling you our Lord and our God.
We pray this in the Mighty name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.
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