Don’t credit me for the title. It’s something I’ve heard of in a devotion message some time ago but I just couldn’t remember who gave it. It made an impact on me because it makes sense. Most unhappiness boils down to the state of the heart.

Love came in only second. Matthew 22:36-39 NIV reads: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

If first and foremost, my heart were occupied with love for the Lord with my soul and mind, everything else including persons, treasures, sources of security, desires, wrong attitudes, and desires would fall second. And if God takes the Number One spot of importance, it will be easier to let go of those other things.

Guess what Jesus identifies as the measure for love for God? Obedience. John 14:23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24a Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

If we understood just how much He loves us that He would be willing to go through His unbearable suffering, pain, and death to give us life, our love for Him would merely be a response to this faithful, unconditional, untiring, holy love.

John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. Romans 5:8 NIV 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He first loved us.

Dear Lord,
Open our eyes to the depth of Your love for us. Thank You for agreeing to take our place to give up your life so that we could have life. Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength to help simplify our choices to obey You. Please filter our hearts of impurities so You will be right at home in us in Jesus’s name and for His glory Amen.