Matthew 22:37-40
³⁷ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
³⁸This is the great and foremost commandment.
³⁹The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
⁴⁰On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Where there is love, there also has to be some kind of relationship.
Some kinds of relationships, like friendships require only moderate degree of devotion; but also a certain degree of reserve and distance.
But when the friendship turns to love, it grows into a completely different relationship. When two hearts give themselves to each other, to be no longer two, but to become one, their interest and paths are growing together as well.
The degree of reserve and distance will disappear, and will be replaced with oneness.
In fact the reserve and the distance, which is suitable for the friendship kind of relationships is fatal in real love relationships; it may end up in a love growing cold, or even separation.
Love gives all, and also expects all in return.
The wishes of the other party become binding obligations; and the deepest desire of each heart is to know every secret wish and longing of the other, in order that it may do all in its power to gratify those desires.
Is that the kind of love, affection, devotion, and obedience you have for the Christ?
Prayer suggestions
▪︎ Thank the Lord for all He has done for you
▪︎ Ask the Lord for forgiveness because our love is so often selfish, and see ourselves only on the receiving side of the relationship.
▪︎ Ask the Lord for forgiveness because we so often know all to well how to take, but also so often forget how to give.
Let us all love our Lord in such a way, that His desires also will be our desires.
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P.S. 2 : Tomorrow, December 10th, there will be no devotional, as I have to go to the hospital for an other post operation checkup.
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