A Climate Of Love - The One Year Salt and Light Devotional

Matthew 22:35-40

“You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38)

HISTORY IS FULL OF ZEALOUS BELIEVERS who tried to teach the gospel of truth without imparting a spirit of love. This approach does not lead to a genuine relationship with God; it results only in religious principles. The heart of the Kingdom is inseparable from the heart of its King. To know him is to love him and be loved. To enter into his life is to enter into an environment of overwhelming affection and intimacy. No one knows the Father in truth who does not also know him in love. Love is the climate of his Kingdom.

That’s why Jesus pointed to Deuteronomy 6:5 as the greatest commandment. While other religions emphasize submission to God or knowledge of truth, Jesus teaches us first and foremost about the relationship we have embraced. It is a relationship of deep intimacy, openness, affection, and acceptance. In his presence, we stand completely exposed before him and are embraced anyway. We are completely vulnerable yet welcomed unconditionally.

Many Christians have succeeded at nearly every point of their discipleship except this one—which is to say, they have discovered the tangents but missed the core. Jesus calls us back to the center. As recipients of the Father’s love, we cast our entire selves—heart, soul, body, everything—into our relationship with him. We take whatever power he gives us and spend it loving him well.

Unless we learn to live in this environment of love, we cannot experience the fullness of our calling. We never need to fear giving more than we receive in this relationship; God’s supply is infinite for those who expend themselves on him. But pouring ourselves out is essential. It is a response to his goodness and a reflection of his nature. We love because he loves. And in this climate, both we and the world around us flourish.

{Father, my love falls short of yours, but you call me anyway into this beautiful culture of selfless affection. Expand my heart; increase my capacity for love; embrace me as your own. I pour myself out for you. Amen.