“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” Deuteronomy 6:5
What does it mean to love God with your heart and soul?
Love God with all your heart. Love God with all your affection. Don’t ever think of your salvation as some kind of business transaction in which Jesus does certain things and you do certain things, and it is all settled with a simple handshake.
Christ shed His blood for you, and He did this because He loves you. The relationship He brings you into is one in which you know Him and come increasingly to love Him.
The heart is more than feelings—never less, but always more. In Hebrew, heart includes the mind, will, desire, and motive. Your thinking, feeling, and desiring are all done in your heart.
We often think of the head and the heart as two different departments that have trouble communicating: “Should I go with my head or my heart?” But when Jesus quoted these words, He added the word mind, making it clear that the head is included in the heart. So, to love God with all your heart means to love Him with all that is in you.
Love God with all your soul. The word soul could also be translated “life.” Love the Lord with all your energy, with all your ability, and with all your years. Make commitments that will deploy what God has given you in ways that show you love Him.
People see that you love your family, your work, and your sports. What are you doing that makes it obvious that you love Jesus?
Do You Need Hope This Easter Season?
Watch the powerful story of the thief on the cross today
The thief’s story of salvation is one that begins, literally, on the brink of hell. The pain this man had experienced throughout his life fueled his hate for God, so much so that he detested the man hanging there on the cross beside him. But then, for the first time, he began to fear God.
If you’ve found yourself in a similar place, there is hope. Hope because heaven is real, hope because we have a Savior, and hope because all you have to do is accept Jesus’ invitation.
Listen NOW!
The HIKE Through the Bible podcast is now streaming! Join Pastor Colin for a leisurely hike through the entire Bible story. In every episode he reads a chapter from his new book HIKE Through the Bible and then discusses it with some friends.
Join Pastor Colin In-Person!
Do you want to understand the Bible story? 📖
Pastor Colin Smith’s upcoming event FLY THROUGH THE BIBLE, is a high-altitude exploration of the entire Bible story. This brief introduction to the Bible will help you grasp who God is, who you are, who Jesus is, and what He offers to you!
Coming to 4 cities this fall:
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Twin Cities, Minnesota
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Indianapolis, Indiana
Will you join us?
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