Fruitful Living
20 ways to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Part 2)
The most important one,” Jesus answered, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these – Mark 12:29-31
PREFACE
Today we bring you the final part of20 Ways To Love God With All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, & Strength.
INTRODUCTION
The Lord our God is the One and only LORD and we must love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. Our Lord Jesus Christ was quoting from Deut. 6:4-5 “Listen, O Israel ! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone . And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” whenHe answeredone of the teachers of the law as quoted above. Jesus said that loving God with all of ourselves is the first and greatest commandment. This command, combined with the command to love your neighbour encompasses all the other Old Testament laws. God’s very essence is love; when we love one another, we are fulfilling God’s most fundamental wish for our lives. We shall, therefore, love the Lord our God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.
Last week we shared 10 Ways To Love God With All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, & Strength. Please enjoy the rest!
- DEVELOP A DAILY BIBLE READING HABIT
We need the knowledge of God to be able to love Him and obey Him. To do that, we need to know Him, know what He did, and know His commandments. That’s why we need to have daily Bible reading as part of our routine. We need a moment when we stop and focus on God and hear His voice from Scripture.
Here are some suggestions to help us create a daily Bible reading habit:
- Schedule a quiet alone time, preferably the first thing in the morning.
- Choose a Bible format that works best for you (digital or paper, translation). Don’t be afraid to test many options or to change them after a while.
- Choose a reading plan to guide you. Start with topical reading plans that have shorter daily readings. Or, if you prefer, read one chapter a day, starting with the New Testament.
- Write down at least one thing you learned from that reading.
- DEVELOP A DAILY PRAYER HABIT
Along with daily Bible reading, God’s people need to engage in daily prayer to God to mature in their personal relationship with Him. The more we know about God from the Bible (by reading and studying it), the more we learn to love Him. And the more we talk to Him in prayer, the more our relationship deepens. And the love we have for Him is strengthened by prayer.
We don’t need to limit ourselves to one single prayer time in the day. The Bible tells us to pray continually 1 Thessalonians 5:17, so let us feel free to pray whenever we need or feel like it. But let us make sure to have specific prayer moments every day. Let us keep in mind that those are the times when we meet our Beloved.
Here are some suggestions to get us started or to improve our prayer time:
- Set aside 15 minutes to pray in the morning, after waking up, and at the end of the day, before going to bed.
- Choose a quiet place – Matthew 6:5-6.
- Have a conversational tone – prayer is a privileged with God.
- After praying, be silent for a few minutes and listen. Let God talk to you.
- Make a prayer list so you can remember what you need to pray about. Also, write down how God answered those prayers.
- Study examples of prayers from the Bible – Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 22:41-42; the Psalms.
- Pray in the name of Jesus Christ – John 14:13-14, which means, pray by His authority, so His Will be done, not yours – 1 John 5:14-15.
- STUDY THE BIBLE DILIGENTLY
We already know that we need to read the Bible and meditate on it daily. But we can go further if we want to pursue more profound spiritual growth, and that’s through Bible study.
Here are some suggestions:
- Use resources to help you explore the text better, like Study Bibles, dictionaries, Bible commentaries, and so on.
- Study with a partner or in small groups.
- Attend Bible classes in your local church.
- Attend Bible classes from reputable institutions.
- Pay attention to the sermons and study the biblical texts further by yourself.
- PRAISE AND WORSHIP THE LORD
When we talk about praising and worshipping the Lord God, the first thing that comes to our minds is usually singing songs. It is a good and biblical way to do it, but it is not the only way. So, we need to understand what praise and worship mean, so they can help us love God more. To praise the Lord is to exalt who He is and what He has done – Psalm 150:2 – and let us be thankful for that. It is not about us – it is completely about Him. Praising Him leads us to worship Him, which is to adore and honour Him. It is an act of reverence. Praise and worship are powerful expressions of our love and admiration for the LORD.
- EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO GOD
The more we seek reasons to express our gratitude for what God has done for us, the more we love Him. The Bible says that everything good comes from Him – James 1:17. Thus, we need to pay attention to the good things we have and intentionally thank God for them. That’s when we see the grace of God in our lives, and we learn to love Him more – Luke 7:36-50.
- SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
Jesus told His disciples (including us) to preach the Gospel to everyone in the world – Mark 16:15. Loving is obeying, so we need to do what He told us to do. We must start by preaching to people around us. We don’t have to be preachers or missionaries to engage in telling people about the good news of Jesus Christ. Whether or not we have the calling to go to a specific place to do it, we need to do our best to fulfill this mission that the Lord assigned to all of us.
- BE INVOLVED IN DISCIPLESHIP
Jesus commanded us to make disciples – Matthew 28:1. To obey His command, we need to be discipled by a more mature believer and, as we grow in faith, let us start discipling newer Christians. Let us keep in mind that we must make disciples for Christ Jesus, not for ourselves. We should teach people to obey what the Lord has taught us –Matthew 28:20 – and follow Him. This is done by example, not only by speech. We must live as Jesus wants us to, so others will learn –1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1.
- BE INVOLVED IN MISSIONS.
Christians are called to be witnesses of Jesus and preach the Gospel in our local cities and unto the ends of the earth – Acts 1:8. However, not everyone has the calling to go to other nations. Even if we don’t, we can still do something to advance the Gospel throughout the world.
Here are some suggestions:
- Pray for the missionaries.
- Donate to sponsor kingdom agenda business.
- Spread the word about missions in your local community.
- Talk to your local church leaders about adopting a missionary.
- Support Bible translation organisations.
- Be a local volunteer for a missionary organisation.
- Serve on a short-term mission trip.
- EXPRESS THE LOVE OF GOD BY SERVING OTHERS
Jesus said that He didn’t come to be served but to serve –Mark 10:45. He expects us, His followers, to do the same to others. Serving those around us is another way to express our love for God and to care about the things He cares about. See some practical examples in James 1:27, Isaiah 1:17, Psalm 82:3, Matthew 25:31-46.
- BE ACTIVE IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH
Loving others begins in the church but is not limited to it –Galatians 6:10. So, don’t just be a mere churchgoer. Let us get involved with the beloved brothers and sisters in our community. It is not only about taking tasks inside the church building but also about serving our community with what we have to offer (talents, time, resources, etc.). Create and nurture relationships. By doing this, not only will we obey many commandments as we read in Galatians 5:13; John 13:34, 15:12; Romans 12:10; 1 John 3:18, 4:11,20, but we will also express our love for God’s own beloved children.
End Piece!
The greatest commandment of all time teaches us that the first thing we need to learn in our Christian life is to love God with our whole being. This important commandment of God requires total commitment to Him and a decision of the will from the children of God to accomplish it.
If you have not yet confessed Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, this is an opportunity to do so. And when you do, just surrender totally to Him with your eternal future, for He will never leave nor forsake you – Hebrews 13:5
STAY BLESSED!
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministries.org
Fruitful Living
Hijab (Islamic veil) as an act of worship (Part 2)
Consequences on lack of knowledge about Hijab can cause Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
Lack of knowledge about the use of Hijab and its role in promoting modesty can contribute significantly to immoral behaviour in societies, which in turn increases the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
In Islamic teachings, the Hijab is not only a piece of clothing but a broader concept of modesty, dignity and moral conduct.
When society underestimates the value of modesty in behaviour, dress and interactions, it can lead to permissiveness in relationships, unsafe sexual practice, and other behaviours that increase the risk of STDs.
Peer Pressure and Western Influence in Urban Areas
In Urban centres like Accra and Kumasi, younger generations are often influenced by Western media and fashion trends that promote revealing clothing and casual attitudes towards relationships.
This cultural shift, coupled with inadequate education about Islamic principles like the hijab’s role in promoting modesty, can lead to high incidence of promiscuity.
For instance, young women and men engaging in risky sexual behaviour without understanding the consequences often do so under the influence of societal trends. This increase exposure to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS, which remains a public health issue in Ghana.
Misinterpretation of Freedom and Modernity
In higher educational institutions, some students perceive wearing the hijab as outdated or limiting their freedom. This lack of knowledge about the hijab’s significance can lead to adopting lifestyles that prioritize fashion over modesty.
For example, a university student might choose to attend social gatherings where alcohol and casual sexual encounters are common, driven by peer pressure and a desire to fit in.
Without the grounding principles of modesty and chastity, the chances of unprotected and reckless sexual activity rise, contributing to the spread of diseases like gonorrhea or syphilis.
Both scenarios highlight how a lack of knowledge about the hijab’s deeper values can lead to behaviors that put individuals and society at risk.
While the hijab alone does not guarantee moral behavior, its principles, when understood and embraced, can foster a culture of self-respect and responsibility that mitigates the spread of STDs.
Education on these values, coupled with awareness of sexual health, is critical for addressing this challenge in society. Casual relationships contribute to the spread of STDs, which harm both individuals and communities.
Fundamental Human Rights: Religious Freedom
Ghana, like many democratic nations, guarantees the right to freedom of religion. Article 21(1) ( c ) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana explicitly states: “All persons shall have the right to freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice.”
This provision protects every citizen’s right to practice their religion, including the wearing of Hijab, without discrimination or intimidation.
Similarly, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948, Article 18, asserts:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.”
These legal provisions recognise Hijab as part of the manifestation of Islam and affirm that Muslim women have the right to wear Hijab in public institutions
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
Fruitful Living
Christ Our Lord (Final part)
This sin gave Satan the firm foothold he had been looking for. Sin and Satan now held the world in a vice-like grip. God’s people now walked in darkness: oppressed by Satan. Spiritually speaking, they lived in a never-ending winter: rarely experiencing the warmth of God’s love.
Enslaved by sin as they were, they were doomed to die both physically and spiritually. ‘(Adam’s) sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned.’ – Romans 5:12
Who could rescue God’s creation from the curse of Satan, the enemy? Mankind’s rescuer would need to be someone strong enough to engage in battle against the power of Satan; someone who would fight compromise with evil, for evil cannot combat evil; only goodness can do that.
There was only one person who could even attempt the rescue bid: God Himself. So God entered the world in the form of the perfect man: Jesus Christ. ‘God in Christ was reconciling the world to Himself.’ – 2 Corinthians 5:19
Jesus knew the solution to the sin-problem. He, the man-who-never-sinned, would need to take upon Himself every sin each individual in the world had ever committed and would ever commit. It would be as though He Himself had committed the crimes of the cosmos. He would, therefore, pay the penalty in person. He would die: ‘Without beauty, without majesty (we saw him), no looks to attract our eyes; a thing despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering, a man to make people screen their faces He was despised and we took no account of Him.
And yet ours were the sufferings He bore, ours the sorrows He carried. But we, we thought of Him as someone punished, struck by God, and brought low. Yet He was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins. On Him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through His wounds we are healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each taking his own way, and Yahweh burdened Him with the sins of all of us.’ – Isaiah 53:2-6
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me to drink in these facts:
Mine were the sufferings you bore
Mine the sorrows you carried
You were pierced through for my faults
Crushed because of my sin
God laid on you the punishment that brought me
Peace
Joy
And a whole new start in life
Help me to say an adequate
Thank you.
RANSOMED
A man was once caught stealing from his employers. When the court case was heard, the judge imposed a fine of GH¢50. Failure to pay the prescribed fine, he said, would result in imprisonment. The night of the court hearing, the man despaired. He had no money. That was why he had resorted to stealing in the first place. How was he to pay the fine? The thought of a period in prison filled him with horror. Next morning, a brown envelope fell through this man’s letter-box. It contained ten, crisp, new GH¢5 notes and a hand-written explanation: To pay off the debt. The offender never discovered where the money had come from. The only information he could glean was that a member of the nearby church heard of his plight and decided to set him free from the threat of imprisonment.
When Jesus died on the cruel cross, He brought our release from the clutches of the evil one. He also set us free from the bondage to sin in which we had been trapped. And He delivered us from the effects of the sin-stained past and from the guilt that enshrouded us: The death of Christ ‘One act of perfect righteousness, presents all men freely acquitted in the sight of God.’ – Romans 5:18. ‘God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son, that everyone who has faith in Him may not die but have eternal life.’ – John 3:16
This article has been heavily inspired by Joyce Hugget in “Approaching Easter, Meditations for Lent.”
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
