Bible Study: Loving God with Our All
During our Wednesday session we examined four possible dimensions of love involved with loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Now we are going to further dig into the first two dimensions of love discussed.
Understanding the Depth of God’s Love
Reread Ephesians 3:17-19. Is your relationship in Christ “rooted and established” in love as stated in these verses? If so, in what ways? What’s one step you can take to begin embracing and experiencing God’s love more fully? Be sure to write this in your journal or on the back of the invitation provided to you at Mothers Together.
What does it mean for you to be loved with the vast width and depth of God’s love? What would stay the same in your life? What would change about your life if you really embraced this kind of love God is offering?
Now pray and ask him to help you see more evidence of his love in your life. Maybe he has already revealed to you how he wants to show his love to you. Maybe you want to see and/or be more aware of his presence throughout your day. Maybe you want to more fully embrace that God loves you just as you are and live life more confidently because of this. For me, a few years ago I desired to hear him speak to me more clearly and directly but I needed to clear my brain and schedule to allow him the chance to speak but it still took me a few years to figure this out. He’ll show you the way if you ask.
Take some time to rejoice and thank God for the many ways he shows his love to you. Thank him for specific ways he cares for you, provides for you, nurtures you, calls you, etc.
Loving God Back
It takes God to love God. The greatest gift the Holy Spirit gives to us is the ability to receive God’s love and to love him back. Read Romans 5:5. This should be refreshing to us to know that the Holy Spirit will help us to love God with our all in the way he deserves and desires. We don’t have to do it perfectly. He rejoices when we consistently and persistently try to keep taking steps closer to God no matter how big or small they are.
Here are some additional thoughts about what’s involved with loving God back.
1) Loving God on His terms based on a spirit of obedience. Read John 14:15-23.
a) We each have different struggles. When we sacrifice something important to us or resist a temptation to sin due to our love for God, that touches His heart making Him want to reveal more of himself to us.
i) What is your biggest struggle or hurdle to loving God back?
ii) Identify one step you can take to start over-coming this hurdle. Then as you feel comfortable, share this with your MT group so they can support you in conquering this first step.
b) We will never obey perfectly but what counts is that we continually try to allow God control of all areas of our life. God rewards persistence and does not want us to live in condemnation or guilt.
2) Make a plan to intentionally pursue God with diligence.
a) Read Psalm 91 and focus on verse 14. In the New King James translation of the Bible it says, "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.” David was known for being a man after God’s heart because David relentlessly pursued God. Sure he messed up many many times but he always repented or asked for God to forgive him. He came back to God and recommitted his heart to loving God with his all.
Here are a few of the things we can glean about loving God from David’s life:
· Requires making a determined decision to love God with our all.
· Involves making a plan to intentionally pursue God with diligence.
o Remember God is moved no matter how big or small our steps of pursuit are to draw closer to him.
o Often requires a sacrifice of some sort in order to set aside time to be still with God and get filled up each day. He will honor your sacrifice in ways beyond your expectations.
· Regularly recommit to your plan of pursuit so it lasts and does not whither away. Read about more about David in Psalms 27:4 and Daniel in Daniel 6:10 regarding recommitting and having a plan that lasts.
b) What would a plan to intentionally pursue God look like for you? What would be involved? Be sure to include how and when you would regularly recommit yourself to your plan.
3) Asking and Inviting Him In
a) God waits to be invited in when it comes to matters of the heart.
b) This includes building a group of believers and inviting them in as well to journey with you. Building towards authenticity and honesty with God and others in your inner circle is a process but essential to really experiencing the transformation God desires for your life.
c) Ask God to show you where He wants you to spend time with Him in your daily routine, ask Him to guard this time.
SOURCE: Bickle, Mike. "The First Commandment: Loving God as Our Greatest Life Calling." Web. June 2011.
