by leaps and bounds

Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:35-37)

With all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind… Obviously, this means we are to love God with everything we have- our whole being. Is this a tall order?

At first glance, it is indeed a tall order. After all, we do not see God in a tangible form. It is a rare occasion when He speaks audibly to us. Therefore, we have to believe in His existence. Then we have to understand that loving Him completely is not an instantaneous matter. It is a process. So, how do we love God the way we are told we should?

Wouldn’t you agree that it is much easier to love someone who loves us? It sure helps things along doesn’t it? A good starting place for loving God is simply realizing that He already loves us. I John 4:19 says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” Before we were born, He decided to love us. It would seem reasonable to conclude that loving God is not just an emotion- it is a decision we make.

Searching Scripture we find that God cares very much about how we treat others. Actually, we can show our love toward God by loving other people. People are made in the image and likeness of God. We can see them with our own eyes! Notice the words of John:

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from him: that he who loves God must love his brother also (I John 4:20-21).

Finally, loving God depends on our desire to be close to Him. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” As we approach God, we fully understand how much He loves us. As we understand how much He loves us, we can’t help but love Him more and more. Loving Him completely becomes less and less of a tall order. In fact, it becomes a delight.

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Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.

Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children  — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter  — Breanna. 

Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.