Strength

When the Holy Spirit spoke to Moses, he gave one command to him and Moses was to pass this on to his children, and his children’s children.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6)

Jesus went even further.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

I understand what it means to love God with all my heart – I devote my calendar and passions to him.  I understand what it means to love God with my mind – I read and memorise his word and sanctify my thoughts by them.  But what does it mean to love God with all my strength?  Is it my physical strength or does it simply mean to go all out for him?  Some Jewish scholars think that “strength” is referring to money and resources (many would argue against this).

I think the answer is threefold.  To love God with all our strength is to love God with our:

bodies: in 2018 use the skills God gives you to serve Jesus.

wallets: budget for God with money, set aside 10% for his work.

calendar: in 2018 budget for God in your calendar – set aside time for his work & his church.

 

God gave us our “strength” and we should love him back with it.

Let’s make and grow disciples in 2018.

Denis Oliver