Matthew 22: 37-40, Luke 10: 27-28, 1 John 3: 16-23, Matthew 25, James 2: 26

Matt Deaville

God's been speaking to me over the summer about the importance of the heart.

In Matthew 22: 37-40 Jesus said when asked of Him which is the great commandment:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul & mind"
and "You shall love your neighbour as yourself"

In Luke 10: 27-28 the account says that Jesus said do this and you will live.

These are the two most important things we can do, verse 40 of Matthew 22 says all the law and the prophets hang on these two things.

First thing Jesus asks of us is Love God with all your heart.

As a Christian I want to know how to love God and others as I'm commanded. Here's some great advice on how to love others given in 1 John 3: 16-23

We know love because Christ laid His life down for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

- sacrificially give of yourself to other people
- If we have what it takes to meet needs and don't, then we don't love.
- Love is not just talk, its active (DC Talk wrote a song, "love is a verb")

Christianity is not passive its active. If all churches ever do is meet to preach without practicing deeds then we never outwork what we're actually called to. Matthew 25 gives us further insight talking about what we refer to as social action. Without doing the works our faith becomes redundant. James 2: 26 says faith without works is dead. These agree with 1 John 3 that we must actively express our love and faith not just speak it.

Challenge yourself, your lifestyle, about giving to others. Do you confess to love but not actively do anything, be honest before God and turn from speaking about love to speaking and showing love.