By Kevin Alleyne
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37, KJV).
I love my wife and my son more than anything else in this world, but what if I only give them half of my attention? What if I only speak to them when I need something? Will that be love? We often expect full commitment in our earthly relationships, yet many people give God only a portion of their love. Jesus reminds us that loving God is not a part-time commitment; it is a wholehearted devotion.
True love for God requires our whole heart, soul, and mind; nothing less will do.
In Matthew 22, Jesus is confronted by religious leaders trying to trap Him with a question: what is the greatest commandment? Instead of being caught in their schemes, Jesus gives them the most important truth. Loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind is the foundation of everything. This was not a new teaching; Jesus was reaffirming what God had commanded in Deuteronomy 6:5. But the question remains: do we truly love God?
Loving God is not just a feeling; it is a commitment that involves every part of our being. But how do we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind?
1: Loving God with All Your Heart Means He has Your Greatest Affection
The heart represents the emotions, desires, and passions. Loving God with all our hearts means He is our greatest love; our love for Him is above all else.
There is a newly engaged couple at my job. When I look at them, the only words that come to my mind are excited, committed, and focused on each other. Their love influences their priorities. Our love for God should be even greater, shaping how we live.
What do you love most? Do your actions show that God is your first love? Loving God with all your heart means putting Him above everything else: money, relationships, success, or personal desires.
2: Loving God with All Your Soul Means Complete Surrender
The soul represents one’s identity, will, and inner being. Loving God with all one’s soul means surrendering oneself fully to His purpose.
When a people enlist in the military, they no longer live for themselves but follow the command of their leader. In the same way, loving God with all our soul means submitting to His will, not ours.
Are you fully surrendered to God? Do you trust Him even when life is uncertain? Loving God with all your soul means saying, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”
3: Loving God with All Your Mind Means Aligning Your Thoughts with His Truth
The mind represents our thoughts, intellect, and decisions. Loving God with all our mind means filtering everything through His Word, the truth.
If you have ever used a GPS, you will know that it guides you to the right destination, but if you ignore it, you will get lost. The Bible is our spiritual GPS, leading us to the truth. If we neglect God’s Word, our minds will be filled with deception and distractions.
What fills your mind daily? Are you consumed by worldly ideas or God’s truth? Loving God with all your mind means renewing your thoughts through scripture, prayer, and godly wisdom.
Loving God is not just about saying “I love You, Lord.” It’s about living a life which shows He is our greatest love, our deepest surrender, and our guiding truth. Imagine a marriage in which one spouse is only halfway committed, it will not last. Likewise, God wants ALL of us, not just PIECES of our hearts, souls, and minds.
Today, God is calling us to love Him fully, not halfway, not only when it is convenient, but with everything we have. Are you holding back areas of your life from Him? Surrender your heart, soul, and mind completely, and experience the fullness of a life devoted to God.
