Fruitful Living
20 ways to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Part 2)
The most important one,” Jesus answered, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these – Mark 12:29-31
PREFACE
Today we bring you the final part of20 Ways To Love God With All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, & Strength.
INTRODUCTION
The Lord our God is the One and only LORD and we must love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. Our Lord Jesus Christ was quoting from Deut. 6:4-5 “Listen, O Israel ! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone . And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” whenHe answeredone of the teachers of the law as quoted above. Jesus said that loving God with all of ourselves is the first and greatest commandment. This command, combined with the command to love your neighbour encompasses all the other Old Testament laws. God’s very essence is love; when we love one another, we are fulfilling God’s most fundamental wish for our lives. We shall, therefore, love the Lord our God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.
Last week we shared 10 Ways To Love God With All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, & Strength. Please enjoy the rest!
- DEVELOP A DAILY BIBLE READING HABIT
We need the knowledge of God to be able to love Him and obey Him. To do that, we need to know Him, know what He did, and know His commandments. That’s why we need to have daily Bible reading as part of our routine. We need a moment when we stop and focus on God and hear His voice from Scripture.
Here are some suggestions to help us create a daily Bible reading habit:
- Schedule a quiet alone time, preferably the first thing in the morning.
- Choose a Bible format that works best for you (digital or paper, translation). Don’t be afraid to test many options or to change them after a while.
- Choose a reading plan to guide you. Start with topical reading plans that have shorter daily readings. Or, if you prefer, read one chapter a day, starting with the New Testament.
- Write down at least one thing you learned from that reading.
- DEVELOP A DAILY PRAYER HABIT
Along with daily Bible reading, God’s people need to engage in daily prayer to God to mature in their personal relationship with Him. The more we know about God from the Bible (by reading and studying it), the more we learn to love Him. And the more we talk to Him in prayer, the more our relationship deepens. And the love we have for Him is strengthened by prayer.
We don’t need to limit ourselves to one single prayer time in the day. The Bible tells us to pray continually 1 Thessalonians 5:17, so let us feel free to pray whenever we need or feel like it. But let us make sure to have specific prayer moments every day. Let us keep in mind that those are the times when we meet our Beloved.
Here are some suggestions to get us started or to improve our prayer time:
- Set aside 15 minutes to pray in the morning, after waking up, and at the end of the day, before going to bed.
- Choose a quiet place – Matthew 6:5-6.
- Have a conversational tone – prayer is a privileged with God.
- After praying, be silent for a few minutes and listen. Let God talk to you.
- Make a prayer list so you can remember what you need to pray about. Also, write down how God answered those prayers.
- Study examples of prayers from the Bible – Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 22:41-42; the Psalms.
- Pray in the name of Jesus Christ – John 14:13-14, which means, pray by His authority, so His Will be done, not yours – 1 John 5:14-15.
- STUDY THE BIBLE DILIGENTLY
We already know that we need to read the Bible and meditate on it daily. But we can go further if we want to pursue more profound spiritual growth, and that’s through Bible study.
Here are some suggestions:
- Use resources to help you explore the text better, like Study Bibles, dictionaries, Bible commentaries, and so on.
- Study with a partner or in small groups.
- Attend Bible classes in your local church.
- Attend Bible classes from reputable institutions.
- Pay attention to the sermons and study the biblical texts further by yourself.
- PRAISE AND WORSHIP THE LORD
When we talk about praising and worshipping the Lord God, the first thing that comes to our minds is usually singing songs. It is a good and biblical way to do it, but it is not the only way. So, we need to understand what praise and worship mean, so they can help us love God more. To praise the Lord is to exalt who He is and what He has done – Psalm 150:2 – and let us be thankful for that. It is not about us – it is completely about Him. Praising Him leads us to worship Him, which is to adore and honour Him. It is an act of reverence. Praise and worship are powerful expressions of our love and admiration for the LORD.
- EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO GOD
The more we seek reasons to express our gratitude for what God has done for us, the more we love Him. The Bible says that everything good comes from Him – James 1:17. Thus, we need to pay attention to the good things we have and intentionally thank God for them. That’s when we see the grace of God in our lives, and we learn to love Him more – Luke 7:36-50.
- SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
Jesus told His disciples (including us) to preach the Gospel to everyone in the world – Mark 16:15. Loving is obeying, so we need to do what He told us to do. We must start by preaching to people around us. We don’t have to be preachers or missionaries to engage in telling people about the good news of Jesus Christ. Whether or not we have the calling to go to a specific place to do it, we need to do our best to fulfill this mission that the Lord assigned to all of us.
- BE INVOLVED IN DISCIPLESHIP
Jesus commanded us to make disciples – Matthew 28:1. To obey His command, we need to be discipled by a more mature believer and, as we grow in faith, let us start discipling newer Christians. Let us keep in mind that we must make disciples for Christ Jesus, not for ourselves. We should teach people to obey what the Lord has taught us –Matthew 28:20 – and follow Him. This is done by example, not only by speech. We must live as Jesus wants us to, so others will learn –1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1.
- BE INVOLVED IN MISSIONS.
Christians are called to be witnesses of Jesus and preach the Gospel in our local cities and unto the ends of the earth – Acts 1:8. However, not everyone has the calling to go to other nations. Even if we don’t, we can still do something to advance the Gospel throughout the world.
Here are some suggestions:
- Pray for the missionaries.
- Donate to sponsor kingdom agenda business.
- Spread the word about missions in your local community.
- Talk to your local church leaders about adopting a missionary.
- Support Bible translation organisations.
- Be a local volunteer for a missionary organisation.
- Serve on a short-term mission trip.
- EXPRESS THE LOVE OF GOD BY SERVING OTHERS
Jesus said that He didn’t come to be served but to serve –Mark 10:45. He expects us, His followers, to do the same to others. Serving those around us is another way to express our love for God and to care about the things He cares about. See some practical examples in James 1:27, Isaiah 1:17, Psalm 82:3, Matthew 25:31-46.
- BE ACTIVE IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH
Loving others begins in the church but is not limited to it –Galatians 6:10. So, don’t just be a mere churchgoer. Let us get involved with the beloved brothers and sisters in our community. It is not only about taking tasks inside the church building but also about serving our community with what we have to offer (talents, time, resources, etc.). Create and nurture relationships. By doing this, not only will we obey many commandments as we read in Galatians 5:13; John 13:34, 15:12; Romans 12:10; 1 John 3:18, 4:11,20, but we will also express our love for God’s own beloved children.
End Piece!
The greatest commandment of all time teaches us that the first thing we need to learn in our Christian life is to love God with our whole being. This important commandment of God requires total commitment to Him and a decision of the will from the children of God to accomplish it.
If you have not yet confessed Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, this is an opportunity to do so. And when you do, just surrender totally to Him with your eternal future, for He will never leave nor forsake you – Hebrews 13:5
STAY BLESSED!
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministries.org
4. Correct the falsehood
If someone misrepresents Muhammad (pbuh), teach people who Muhammad (pbuh) really was.
Tell them about his mercy.
Tell them about his justice.
Tell them about his patience.
Tell them about his forgiveness.
5. Report genuine offences
Use lawful channels.
The Muslim does not become the police, prosecutor, judge and executioner.
6. Protect the innocent
If one Christian insults Islam, do not attack another Christian who knows nothing about it.
If one Muslim makes an offensive statement, do not blame all Muslims.
7. Restore peace
After the controversy, bring responsible Muslim and Christian leaders together.
Talk.
11 | P a g e
Clarify.
Forgive where forgiveness is appropriate.
And rebuild trust.
Ghana must not become a battlefield of religious provocation
My dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
Let us look around Ghana.
Muslims and Christians have lived together for generations.
We have Muslim fathers with Christian in-laws.
Christian mothers with Muslim sons-in-law.
Muslim and Christian business partners.
Muslim and Christian neighbours.
Muslim and Christian classmates.
Muslims and Christians serving together in the military, police, public service, universities, hospitals, markets and businesses.
This is Ghana.
We must protect this peace.
Religious freedom is precious.
But religious freedom comes with religious responsibility.
A microphone is not a weapon.
A pulpit is not a battlefield.
A smartphone is not a licence to spread hatred.
A viral video is not a fatwa (religious decree).
And anger is not evidence.
12 | P a g e
A word to Muslim scholars
To my fellow Imams and Islamic scholars:
Allah has placed a trust upon our shoulders. You are the best of generations selected for the guidance of mankind. Quran chapter 3:110.
When people are angry, we must calm them.
When people are confused, we must educate them.
When people want revenge, we must teach justice.
When people want violence, we must remind them of Allah.
Our microphone should extinguish fire—not pour petrol upon it.
The Prophet said:ِ
لَيْس َ الشَّدِيد ُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيد ُ الَّذِي يَمْلِك ُ نَفْسَه ُ عِنْد َ الْغَضَب
“The strong man is not the one who can overpower others; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when angry.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6114; Sahih Muslim, 2609)
This is strength.
Self-control is strength.
Restraint is strength.
Wisdom is strength.
Justice is strength.
A word to Christian preachers
And to our Christian brothers and sisters, especially those who preach:
We Muslims deeply revere Jesus (peace be upon him)
He is not an ordinary man in Islam.
He is ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السالم, a mighty Messenger of Allah.
The author is the Chief Imam of Katamanso Municipal and Certified Counsellor and Governance Expert.
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
When Paul tells us that our “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,” he had summarized in the previous two verses what such an attitude was: selflessness, humility, and service. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” – Philippians 2:3-4.
In other words, the attitude a Christian should reflect is one that focuses on the needs and interests of others. Without question, that does not come naturally to us. When Christ came into the world, He established a whole new attitude to relationships with others. One day when His disciples were arguing among themselves regarding who was to be greatest in His kingdom, Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” – Matthew 20:25-28. Jesus is teaching us that, when we become preoccupied with our own things, it can cause conflicts and other problems with people we know. Instead, God wants us to have an attitude of serious, caring involvement in the concerns of others.
Paul speaks more about this Christ-like attitude in his letter to the church in Ephesus: “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.– Ephesians 4:22-24. Many religions of today, including the New Age philosophies, promote the old lie that we are divine or that we can become gods. But the truth of the matter is that we will never become God, or even a god. Satan’s oldest lie was promising Adam and Eve that, if they followed his advice, “- and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5, NKJV.
Each time we try to control our circumstances, our future, and the people around us, we’re only demonstrating that we want to be a god. But we must understand that, as creatures, we will never be the Creator. God doesn’t want us to try to become gods. Instead, He wants us to become like Him, taking on His values, His attitudes, and His character. We are meant to “be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” – Ephesians 4:23-24.
Finally, we must always keep in mind that God’s ultimate goal for His children is not our comfort, but the transformation of our minds into the attitude of godliness. He wants us to grow spiritually, to become like Christ. This doesn’t mean losing our personalities or becoming mindless clones. Christlikeness is all about transforming our minds. Again, Paul tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” – Romans 12:2.
It is God’s will that we develop the kind of mindset described in the Beatitudes of Jesus – Matthew 5:1-12, that we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23, that we emulate the principles in Paul’s great chapter on love – 1 Corinthians 13, and that we strive to pattern our lives after Peter’s characteristics of an effective and productive life – 2 Peter 1:5-8.
Establishing our actions in righteousness
Every person is commanded to live up to divine standards.
a. In the words of Jesus
“ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father, who is in heaven, is perfect” – Mt. 5:20, 48.
Every person in the world is required to live up to that standard. You say, “You’ve got to be kidding!” No, I’m not. You are obligated to live up to that standard with a pure inside as well as a right outside. But you say, “I can’t!” You are absolutely right. That’s why we are given the solution…
b. In the words of Paul
As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;– Rom. 3:10, 21-22a.
Though you can’t obtain on your own the righteous standard Christ set, you can receive His righteousness if you are one of those who believe. Isn’t that great? God set the holy standard. And when you acknowledge that you can’t live up to it, He says, “My Son is not only the Lawgiver, but He is the Redeemer as well, who makes it possible for you to live on that level.” Beloved, it’s a fantastic thing! The standard is so high we can’t obtain it. But Christ met that standard and imputes to us His righteousness. Oh, what a blessed thing!
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
