How Deep is Your Love?

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Today's Passage: Mark 12: 28-34
Memory Verse: Mark 12:30

What do you do when you've done everything you know to do while on this journey, taking heed to the Word and positioning yourself to be used by God on a greater level, only to keep coming up against opposition and strife? How do you handle being the object of unfair judgment although you know in your heart you're walking upright before the Lord, perhaps more closely than ever before? The way you do that is remember that although we are IN this world, we're not OF it. Therefore, in order to keep yourself in line with the kingdom of God, you must live in preparation for heaven, where our real home is.

In a world where the focus is me- centered, we are raised to believe we have rights. We walk around with a sense of entitlement even in the kingdom. Although we make mistakes and hurt others, expecting them to forgive us based on our intentions, we are offended-- sometimes even outraged-- when we have to endure harsh words from others. Today's passage wants us to be reminded that He expects us to be GOD-focused, which changes our mindset from the worldly perspective. Above all, we are required to see God as The Only One whom we are to love and worship, but not just in any old way.

Our love for God must come from the same place where all our passions previously arose. We must love Him so deeply that whatever sacrifice He requires of us should be worth the cost. So deeply, in fact, that when He says "let go of that past hurt", we want to please Him more than we care to hold on to that grudge. We should love to the point where our Father's Word takes priority over everyone else's. So when He says, "Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you", our task is to obey because we know God has a plan to use that love. Moreover, we should be moved to do those things because only His love will follow us to Heaven-- not our great accomplishments or personal opinions of others.

Today, rather than focus on what you have to give up because of Your love for the Father, know that every act of love is recorded in the heavens. And when we love God more deeply than our own desires, He gives us a love for our neighbor (fellow man) that allows us to plant seeds of light that will point those who don't even know God to Him. That's why we can NEVER please God by retaliating when people hurt us. He's too concerned about the negative impact it will have on those who haven't yet given their hearts to Him. I guess the question of the day is, "How deep is your love?" And the answer to that would be, "It depends on how much of me I'm willing to let God have."

Prayer: Father, I love You with my whole heart, mind, and strength. My life's goal is to pursue Your Will for my life-- even if it leads me to places where I may not understand what You're doing. I consume Your Word and commit to obey, because ultimately all things work together for the good of all who are called to live big for You. As I live out my love for You, may Your love ooze out of me to others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.