Love God? Do You

My6 year old neighbour Michael and I were talking in my front garden when two other children stopped nearby. After I asked them their names, Michael’s first question to them was: “Do you love God?” John, a 5 year old boy, quickly responded, “No!” Michael gave him a look of disapproval and concern. When 4 year old Alice noticed he wasn’t pleased with that answer, she said, “Yes!”

Michael’s ‘strategy’ for sharing our need for God may not be the most effective, but he does have an important question for the people he meets (and I’ve heard him ask it of several others as well).

Jesus was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” (Mark 12:28). He answered, “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” (vv.29-30).

Jesus was referring to Old Testament times, when God had told the Israelites to place Him as the one and only God in their lives and nation. The pagan nations around them had many gods they loved and worshipped, but God’s people were to be different.

Loving God is to be our top priority too. So, the important question for each of us is, “Do I love God?” —Anne Cetas

For Further Thought

Have you trusted in Jesus as your Saviour?

What evidence is there in your life that you love God?

How are you showing God’s love to others?

If you truly love the Lord, you’ll want others to love Him too.