In Luke 10, just before telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, we are reminded that the greatest commandment is, “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 neighbor as yourself.” These words are actually spoken by a Pharisee attempting to trick Jesus, but they are a direct quote from the Old Testament. As we near Valentine’s Day, I wanted to take a look at this verse, and it’s two parts—this week, we’ll talk about loving God, and next week, about loving others.

I think that it’s significant that the person who quotes this verse, telling us that we are to love God with all that we have, is actually at the same time showing blatant disrespect toward the Son of God by trying to cause Him to trip over His words. This Pharisee obviously knew what the answer to this question was going to be before he even asked it, evidenced by the fact that he was ready with his follow-up question, and simply by the fact that he was a Pharisee, and this commandment was foundational to all that he did (or was supposed to do). These words, known to Jewish people as the “Shema,” are part of their most known, recited, and important prayer. It was almost an impossibility that the asker of this question did not know the answer.

Yet, as he stood there asking, he was ignoring the very law he recited. While it is so easy to point and place blame on this Pharisee, I’m afraid that I too sometimes act in this manner. It may not be as intentional as the Pharisee, but I know as I reflect on my life, I can think of times and seasons where I was not loving God with ALL of my heart and soul and mind and strength. In fact, there may even be more days where I didn’t fully follow this commandment than when I did.

Loving God in this way requires sacrifice. It means we are going to have to actively love, not just simply rest in our system of beliefs. An old youth group song we used to listen to quoted, “Love is a Verb.” In this case, I think that is true.

In the UMC Communion Liturgy, there is a confessional prayer that is said:
Merciful God,
We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will,
   we have broken your law,
   we have rebelled against your love,
   we have not loved our neighbors,
   and we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience,
   through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I remember the first time I heard this used in a service, I had lots of feelings. I was offended, convicted, a little shocked, and ashamed all at once. The offense was really just a defense mechanism for my personal sins being laid out and named in front of the church, though.

However, even at the end of this somewhat harsh and very honest reminder of our failings, we find hope. Hope that when we ask for forgiveness, God has promised that is exactly what He will give. Hope that we can be freed from this sin, and can move not only to trying harder, but to JOYFUL OBEDIENCE.

Loving God, while yes, is an action, is not an action that should cause despair or negative feelings about all of the work that is ahead of us. We can love God joyfully, knowing that this love comes THROUGH Jesus Christ. We can’t do it on our own anyway, so why try? Our labor is in vain if we are not approaching God through the person of Jesus Christ. Because of the work of Jesus, God forgives our mistakes and missteps, and sees us as children, whole and dearly loved.

As we walk in to this Valentine’s Day week, so focused on love, may we remember that we are loved by God, and may we love God in return. May we joyfully obey His words and decrees, and freely live the life He has created for us.