Someone posed an important question to Jesus. His answer significantly impacts us today. A man wanted to know the most important things in life upon which he should be focused. Jesus informed the man that two things were more important than all others. Our highest priority is loving God and the second is loving others. This suggests that when it comes time to judge our lives, these two highest criteria will outweigh all others (not to determine our salvation but our eternal rewards). Given this case, it makes a lot of sense for us to be evaluating ourselves by these same two criteria at regular intervals along our journey.

So, how much better are you at loving God than you were 5 years ago? There is no condemnation in this question. And neither is the desired response one of self-strength or trying harder. It takes God to love God. But it does require intentionality. More than anything else, loving God is a response to who He is, what He’s already done for you, how He feels about you and the promises He’s spoken over you. Love begins with God and ends with Him too – indeed He is the Alpha and the Omega. As a matter of fact, everything outside of God happens because of God and is intended for His pleasure. The only lasting thing offered by anyone other than God is a response of loving Him in return – everything else will be burned up as dross and remembered no more.

We have all the motivation we will ever need to love God wholeheartedly. Every good thing comes from Him. The only right and just response is that of sincere gratitude and thanksgiving. Consider that everything that has ever happened to you fits into one of three categories. First, what you experienced was an act of God designed to demonstrate His unconditional love for you. Second, it was the work of the enemy intended to rob you of thankfulness and replace it with bitterness, accusation, rage, religious self-reliance and independence. Third, it was something trivial that will amount to nothing.

If we were honest with ourselves, most of us would have to confess that most of our energies are spend on the latter two instead of the most important thing. All the work of the enemy is meant to either distract us from loving God or to outright destroy our love for Him – ultimately leaving us shaking our fists in rage against Him. But the love of God is far more powerful than any of the works of darkness. When we come into alignment with the transcendent love of God, none of the works of darkness could distract us or rob us of continual gratitude.

A life lived to its ultimate purpose is one given wholeheartedly to rejoicing in all things at all times. Such a life gives no consideration to the futile thinking of man or religion. Fear, accusation and anxiousness have no power over such a focused lifestyle. It is all about trusting ultimately in God’s ultimate goodness as well as His ability to save us from every circumstance life throws our way. This is the life everyone experiences who dwells in God’s eternal presence. Yet, that same lifestyle is available to us today by faith.

If we are not living life to its fullest potential, we may just be missing the point of it all and need to get back to the basics. Jesus might start a team meeting by getting back to the basics with a discussion something like this… “This is God. He is the giver of all good things. Your life is meant to be a response to His loving kindness. When you respond to His love with love, your life has meaning beyond this short little existence. Otherwise, all the works of your hands and the very breath of your lungs are nothing more than a vapor in the wind. So, get back to the basics and love God as God deserves to be loved.”

These same principles apply to loving others. Equally so, our ability to love others comes not from within us. This too is a gift from God. It is only through the process of loving God and allowing His love to transform us that we are capable of giving what only comes from God. We are able to love others when we experience a love that transcends our own. Then, we become a conduit of something we ourselves do not possess. God’s love is so powerful that it can flow through anything. We simply have to stop trying to generate love from within us and focus on God so His love can freely flow in and through us.

Anyway, this is just a reminder of what you already know. If you’ve gotten off track, it only takes a change of heart to get you back on track once again.

God, I repent for loosing sight of what matters most. I confess that I’ve elevated trivial things above eternal ones. Please forgive me for allowing the works of the deceiver to rob me of thankfulness. I want to realize every opportunity for thanksgiving that comes to me each moment of life. I want to align myself with your love. I want to return to you what you so freely give. I give you permission to touch me and love me until I become a conduit of your love to others. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.