It's New Year's eve. For most this is the time for reflections on the year that is about to end and formulating resolutions for the coming one. 2012, for me, had been a good year so allow me to focus more on 2013.
So what will be my plans for next year? I'd like to make it simple and I hope you too will consider these "resolutions" as well.
27 He (Jesus) answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Luke 10:27
I believe these two commands are the perfect resolutions anyone can make. Let's break it down to understand these words better:
"Love the Lord your God". Sounds easy, right? I mean how can we not love God, especially knowing how much He loves us. He cares for us so much, He died a most painful, agonizing death so that we won't have to. Knowing also that He is there for us not just 24/7 but every second of our lives. How can we not love Someone like that? And yet….
Not everybody loves God, not with the kind of love He desires from us. There are four aspects to this kind of love:
1. "with all your heart" - these are our emotions. For many this is the kind of love they know. This is the overflowing feeling that makes us want to be with the object of our affections every single moment. But for a lot of people, emotions come and go depending on the situation or the prevailing mood. God wants us to love Him even when we feel down or beset with problems. As a matter of fact that is the best time to show Him our love because He is our Comfort and Peace.
2. "with all your soul" - these are our spiritual sides. The special connection we have with God. Some people only get spiritual on certain days of the week - often on Sundays when they go to church. The rest of the week they return to their carnality (the opposite of spirituality) concerned with the mundane affairs of their world. Our souls should always be connected to God and be constantly in love with Him.
3. "with all your strength" - these are the physical aspects. How do we physically love Someone who is not physically present? By obeying His laws. By getting on our knees and praying to Him. By worshiping Him in song, in giving, and through helping others.
4. "with all your mind" - these are our intellects. For many this is not easy. For them God is merely a concept. For others God is out there in the heavens detached from human activity. But our God is none of these. He became human and experienced all that we experienced - and more. He knew what we go through as we live our lives here on earth. Loving Him intellectually is knowing all these, all that He had done for us, of being aware not only of His existence, but of His presence in our lives.
Finally, the second command tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Loving ourselves is already a given. We are born that way - seeking glory for ourselves, wanting the best for ourselves. But God tells us to love others the same way. He asks us to humble ourselves and put others first.
Tough resolutions, aren't they? But think of the rewards we will reap if we follow these commands. Once we start loving God above all, at all times, we will have unspeakable joy and peace beyond understanding. Loving others will become much easier, too.
I am determined to accomplish these resolutions not just for 2013 but for as long as I am here on earth.
A blessed new year to you, my dear friends.
Monday, December 31, 2012
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