Deuteronomy 6:4-5
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 strength.
When asked about the most important commandment, Jesus recited this verse.
What is not evident in this verse without the context of many other verses is the incredible promises that go along with this verse. If we truely love the Lord his promises will provide us everything we need.
Jesus said "if you love me, you will keep my commandments." You can take this one of to ways:
- as a commandment; meaning "if you say you love me then you should show me by your obedience."
- as a promise; meaning "if you love me, I'll help you obey me."
I believe this is a promise. The command is to love him and believe him and the promise is the comforter we have in us who is the righteous one who helps us in every area of our lives.
So back to the verse and to my point: "with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" means just that. That you have complete trust in him. It doesn't mean that you love him so much you have checked off your list of religious duties and did extra credit to earn his love.
It means you know that deep down, you are no good. You fall way short of the glory of God but you live in total dependence that he has bailed you out and gives you the power to live right, to live the life he means for you to live.
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