We have discovered in previous posts in this series that a life devoted to following Christ wholly may be envisioned and experienced as a pursuit of the three-fold path of living a submitted, singular and sacrificed life. In the most recent posts, we began to ponder the meaning of living a singular life. How are we to go about living this kind of life? The answer will always be found in Christ himself. He forms singularity in our life in much the same way as we are formed into followers who live submitted lives – through the shaping of an attitude of heart, the enhancement of an awareness of soul and the development of a practice of life.
As an integral part of the continuing work of formation, God cultivates love as the attitude of heart within each of his followers that motivates the singular life. When Jesus was asked which of the commandments was the greatest, he replied, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall 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: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31). Every aspect of our being is captivated and wholly devoted to God through love.
The greatest commandment, the most important one for Christ’s followers to obey every day in each step along our way is: love God with all that you are, through all that you have, by all that you do, in all that you say, with every thought that you think! But, how do we experience this all-encompassing and unifying love of God? How do I know whether I truly love God with my entire being? John Maxwell, the author of numerous books on leadership, has said that in every 24-hour period of time, we demonstrate whom or what we truly love. The answer begins to emerge as we honestly examine ourselves by asking three questions. In the past 24-hours, whom or what did I think about? Whom or what did I listen to? And, whom or what did you spend time with? The person or thing you think about, listen to and spend time with most in each 24-hours of your life is the one you truly love.
As God forms love within us, we will begin to think about Him more and more. Throughout the day as we encounter people, we will be prompted to think about how God loves them and how Christ gave his life to forgive them. We will begin to listen more and more to God speak to us through his Word as we hear it mentioned, taught or preached. Thoughts of God’s Word will come to our mind through conversations with others and through both challenging and uplifting life experiences. Our spiritual ears will become more and more attentive to God. We will have a greater sense of living in his presence, of being with him always. We will begin to see our relationships with other as existing in and through Christ.
In these ways we experience, by God’s grace, his work in shaping the disposition of love within our heart so that love for God pervades every dimension of our life. By faith we pray each day for God to continue this work within us. As he does, we are enabled to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength and all our mind. Our love for Christ begins to be the singular thread that runs throughout each thought, word and activity of our day. We begin to sense a connectedness throughout every facet of our life. God’s love becomes the motivating force for each moment.
In addition to shaping love as the attitude motivating our living a singular life, God is also at work enhancing within our souls an awareness of the presence of Christ in every moment of our life experiences. When Jesus was just about to return to his Father, he issued the Great Commission to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). His words are often recalled to challenge believers with the responsibility to evangelize the whole world, and this is indeed both the purpose and scope of Christ’s commission. But there is one part of the Great Commission that is frequently overlooked. It is found in the last phrase. There Jesus promises us that his presence will be with us now and throughout the end of this present age.
In addition to shaping love as the attitude motivating our living a singular life, God is also at work enhancing within our souls an awareness of the presence of Christ in every moment of our life experiences. When Jesus was just about to return to his Father, he issued the Great Commission to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). His words are often recalled to challenge believers with the responsibility to evangelize the whole world, and this is indeed both the purpose and scope of Christ’s commission. But there is one part of the Great Commission that is frequently overlooked. It is found in the last phrase. There Jesus promises us that his presence will be with us now and throughout the end of this present age.
