Go! And Love with All Your Heart Deuteronomy 6:5 & Luke 10:27.
Introduction
Today, we continue our "Go! And..." series by focusing on the greatest commandment of all: to love God with everything we are. Our anchor texts come from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Luke 10:27. Let’s begin by reading these powerful verses together.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NLT): "And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength."
Luke 10:27 (NLT): "The man answered, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, love your neighbour as yourself.’"
These verses call us to an all-encompassing love for God and a practical love for others. But what does it mean to "Go! And love with all your heart"? Today, we’ll explore three aspects of this command:
Go! And Love God with Your Whole Being.
Go! And Love Others as Yourself.
Go! And Live Out Love in Action.
Let’s dive in together.
1. Go! And Love God with Your Whole Being
Deuteronomy 6:5 "And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength."
The call to love God is central to our faith. In Hebrew, the word for "love" is ahavah, which conveys not just emotion but action and commitment. Loving God with "all your heart" (levav) includes your emotions, desires, and will. Loving Him with "all your soul" (nephesh) encompasses your entire being—your life itself. Finally, "all your strength" (me'od) implies using every resource, energy, and capacity at your disposal to honour Him.
Matthew 22:37-38 "Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment."
Jesus affirmed this Old Testament commandment as the greatest of all. In Matthew 22:37, "mind" is included, emphasising intellectual devotion. Together, these passages show that loving God is holistic—encompassing emotion, thought, and action.
God is calling you to "Go! And love Him with all that you are." Consider your daily priorities: Is God at the centre of your decisions, relationships, and ambitions? Loving Him means surrendering every part of your life to His will.
Pastor Rick Warren says, "The heart of worship is surrender." True love for God is demonstrated in our willingness to submit every aspect of our lives to Him.
Imagine a pianist playing a masterpiece with all their skill, heart, and focus. That level of devotion mirrors how we should love God—giving Him our full attention and effort.
2. Go! And Love Others as Yourself
Luke 10:27 "The man answered, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, love your neighbour as yourself.’"
This verse expands the command to love God by including love for others. The Greek word for "love" here is agape, which refers to selfless, sacrificial love. Loving your neighbour is not optional; it is the natural outflow of loving God.
1 John 4:20 "If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?"
John challenges us to demonstrate our love for God through our treatment of others. Agape love transcends feelings and focuses on action. It reflects God’s own love for us, as seen in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
God is calling you to "Go! And love others as yourself." Look around: Who in your life needs to experience God’s love through your words, actions, and care? This love extends to family, friends, strangers, and even enemies.
Bob Goff writes, "Love does." Love is not passive; it requires intentional acts of kindness and service.
A neighbour once brought groceries to a struggling single mother in her community. That simple act of love transformed her life and pointed her to Christ. Small actions can have eternal impacts.
3. Go! And Live Out Love in Action
James 2:17 "So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."
Loving God and others cannot remain theoretical; it must manifest in action. James’s epistle challenges us to demonstrate our faith through practical expressions of love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 highlights its active and enduring nature. Love requires patience, humility, forgiveness, and persistence—qualities that mirror God’s love for us.
God is calling you to "Go! And live out love in action." Identify specific ways you can demonstrate love this week—whether by helping a neighbour, forgiving someone who hurt you, or volunteering in your community.
Francis Chan writes, "True love requires sacrifice." Loving others often costs us time, energy, and resources, but it reflects the heart of God.
A church in a small town started a food pantry to serve the community. Their love in action brought hope to hundreds of families and opened doors for sharing the gospel.
Conclusion and Call to Action:
Deuteronomy 6:5 and Luke 10:27 challenge us to "Go! And love with all your heart":
Go! And Love God with Your Whole Being.
Go! And Love Others as Yourself.
Go! And Live Out Love in Action.
Application:
Examine your heart: Are you loving God fully? Are you demonstrating His love to others? Make the choice today to prioritise love in every aspect of your life.
Invitation to Faith:
If you have never experienced the love of God personally, today is the day. Jesus said in John 3:16, "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." Surrender your life to Him and receive His perfect love.
Let’s pray together.
