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| Matthew 22:34-40 |
But the TV is so good and I am enjoying so many different programs that time passes fast. Before I know it one, two, three hours have passed. It's lunch time but I'm so interested in what I see that I'm not hungry. But before I came you had planned to fix lunch for me. You had read in a magazine an easy way to make pizza. The day before you had gone out and got all the ingredients. You had already prepared it and all you ne5. New Testament Surve it in the microwave. So even though I've ignored you, even though I'm still watching television you cook the pizza, get some cokes and set the table. When it's ready you come in and say, "Hey, Mr. Steve, I've fixed you some pizza. It's ready here on the table.?
For the first time I look up and look you in the eye. Suddenly I realize I've totally ignored you all morning. I also realize that I am hungry and the pizza smells real good. You have fixed pepperoni pizza which is my favorite. I come over and sit down at the table and you put a hot slice of this wonderful pizza on my plate. Realizing all the work you have done I look at you and say, "Wow, you are a good friend. Thank you so much for the pizza." Then I began to eat. I eat one slice, two slices, three, four, five slices. I drink three glasses of coke. I am enjoying your pizza so much that I keep eating and ... don't say anything. It's very quiet as we eat. The only sounds you can hear is chewing and eating, slurping and drinking sounds.
As I finish eating I look out the window and notice a brand new, really cool and powerful motorcycle sitting out there. "Is that your's?"I ask. After you say, "Yes," I jump up from the table and run outside to check it out. The key is in the ignition. So I jump on it, turn it on and begin riding it around the neighborhood. There are trails out behind your house and I take off down the trails. I have so much fun riding on this great machine that I keep riding and riding and riding. I go down more and more trails. At first you saw me disappear out of your sight. But then the noise of the motorcycle got smaller and smaller and smaller until you could not hear it any more. And I was gone all afternoon.
Now here I have come to your house as your guest. I watched your TV, ate your pizza, I rode your motorcycle but I have hardly looked at you. I have not said very much to you. I have spent hardly any time with you. If I did that to you how would you feel? If I treated you that way how would you feel? ... Why?
Now let me ask you one question. How is your relationship with God? Maybe the story I have just told you is about you too. God invites you to come and spend time with Him. How is your relationship with Jesus Christ? ... Do you ignore Him? ... Do you have a close relationship with Him? ... Do you spend time with Him? Do you talk with Him like a friend? Do you listen to Him? Or is the only time you talk with Him just before you eat a meal? How close are you to Him? If you treated your best friend the way you treat Jesus Christ what kind of relationship would you have?
In Matthew 22:35 a lawyer came to Jesus asking, "What is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him,
 Matthew 22:35 |
"You shall 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." |
The answer Jesus gave in this verse comes from Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41. Aheb, the Hebrew word for love used in Deuteronomy 6:5, refers primarily to an act of the mind and will, the determined care for something or someone. It might also include strong emotion but it is mainly referring to the dedication and commitment of choice. The same word is translated into the New Testament Greek as agapao, the verb of intelligent, purposeful and committed love that is an act of the will.
Let's imagine that (if you are a boy) you have a girlfriend or (if you are a girl) you have a boyfriend. And let's imagine that you love and trust this person more than any other person in the world. You have been best friends for more than one year and then your friend very sadly tells you that their family is moving overseas. Your heart is broken as you watch your best friend leave you.
You don't see or hear from your friend for several weeks. Then one day a letter comes with your name on it. It is from your friend. You are so excited. What will you do with that letter? Will you walk back into the house and set the letter on the table or up on a shelf to read later? Would you put it in your pocket? No way! You will rip open that envelope and start reading that letter right away. Why would you do that? Because you really love your friend and you want to know what your friend is thinking and doing.
In a similar way God loves you very much. And He wants a real relationship with you. He has written a love letter that explains what He's like, what He thinks and what He does. How close are you to Him? Are you "in love" with God. To love God with all your heart, soul and mind means to love God with your whole being, with every part of you. If you really love God (1) you will seek Him and want to be with Him, (2) you will want to listen to what He has to say and (3) you will want to talk to Him often.
Psalm 42:1 says,
Psalm 42:1 |
"As a deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God." |
James 4:8 says
James 4:8 |
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." |
Deuteronomy 4:29 says
Deuteronomy 4:29 |
"... you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." |
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by Steve Nicholes
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