"Love" Mark 12:32-33, Word of Grace Devotion by Pastor Joe Marquez

2/10/2015

The Word of Grace Devotion for the Week of February 9, 2015

Love

Mark 12:32-33, “So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Beloved, this coming Saturday we celebrate Valentine’s Day, a day of recognizing the love of our life. Flowers will be sent, chocolates will be eaten and love will abound…but…what about the ultimate love of our life, our Savior? For us as believers, our supreme love should be for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So how are we to love God?

We Love the Lord with all of our heart. When we gave our life to Christ, we gave Him our heart. Our heart is the fountain and seat of our thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, and endeavors. He has or should have all of us.

We love the Lord with our understanding (mind), literally a running together. We are to daily learn of Him and His incredible love for us through the Scriptures. As believers our love for the Lord is not a blind love but a growing and learning love.

We Love the Lord with all of our soul. The soul is the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, and aversions (our heart, soul etc.). Our soul is our personal spirit, the eternal part of our being.

We also love the Lord with our strength. Strength is ability, force, strength, and might. Hence we love the Lord with everything that we possess!

Beloved, as believers we are blessed to have an incredible Savior who loved us while we were yet sinners. SO if you do not have a significant other, the truth is that you do! His name is Jesus and He loves you. Happy Valentines Day Jesus!

I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you!

In His Love-

Pastor Joe

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Senior Pastor
Joe Marquez

Beloved, everyone has an opinion on what "True Freedom" is. For some, it's financial independence. For others, it’s autonomy from government control. For still others, it’s the ability to do whatever you want whenever you feel like it.

Jesus offers a different kind of freedom and a better brand of life. Here Jesus tells us that true freedom is: the freedom to be a genuine disciple.

Freedom is not the ability to do whatever you want whenever you want. That is the slavery of a sinful lifestyle. So today consider how free you really are and what areas of life you may still be in bondage to. Then run to Jesus and ask Him to free you! Remember John 8:32, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!”

In Christ,
Pastor Joe Marquez