Wholly Love

Jesus replied, “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. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV)

Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ’Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, ERV)

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, MSG)

The more we love God, the more we are aware of His love for us, and the greater our desire is to do the same for those around us. To love God with our heart, soul and mind is to know with our logic, emotion and gut, who He is and the overwhelming depth of His love. As we grow in our understanding, through seeking Him, we cannot help but desire to share out of the overflow of what we have been given. God’s goodness compels us to love Him as He loves us and to do what pleases Him. May we ever seek the Lord in love to show us more and more of who He is, and rely on Him to lead us to love those around us well.

Lord, show us Your love,

So we do the same;

Lead us to love well,

To honor Your Name.

Help our minds to know,

And hearts understand;

So our souls align,

With Your holy plan.

Grow in us, purpose,

To truly love well;

With heart, soul, and mind,

As in You we dwell.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call, command, and have created us to love. Thank You that You first loved us. Forgive us for the times that we neglect to love You with all that we are, and withhold love from those around us. Teach us to trust You more so that we are “all in” loving You and loving those whom You place in our lives. Show us how to love as You intended. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You anew each day to learn how to love You and those around us more. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:5

Clothed With Christ

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – (Colossians 3:12, NIV)

God has chosen you and made you His holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. – (Colossians 3:12, ERV)

You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with the virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. – (Colossians 3:12, TPT)

If we know God, we have been chosen by Him. God loves us and equips us to love like Him. Our attributes that mirror His ought to be worn like our favorite clothes. We are called to be compassionate as we seek to understand one another, and to show kindness to all. Gentleness and humility ought to be our mode of operation, as we choose to extend patience to others. As we are intentional to choose to love and clothe ourselves with Christ, we set aside the desire to be right, and instead, listen to understand. Every decision we make ought to be done with kindness, gentleness and patience. May we ever seek the Lord to transform our hearts to be more like His, so that we love one another as He loves us.

May we each choose wear, 

Evidence of You;

Outward expression,

Of internal truth.

For as we are loved,

We need to love too;

Compassion, kindness,

Patience in plain view.

Let us seek the Lord,

To learn what to do;

To truly love well,

As we are made new.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to clothe ourselves with attributes like Your own. Thank You that because You have shown us kindness, we can be kind; in the same way that You extend Your patience to us, we are able to do the same to others. Thank You that Your gentleness is made evident through those who love us well. Thank You that You willingly help us to walk in humility. Forgive us for the times that we have allowed our emotions to dictate how we treat others, rather than pausing and seeking You to lead us well. Teach us to trust You more, so that we turn to You in all things to lead us to love like You. Show us how to love in every season and circumstance. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we depend on You to clothe ourselves in kindness, gentleness and patience to be shown to all. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. – Romans 14:13