Browsing through the Just A Thought category of our website came across the post “Don’t Focus So Much On…” In this post, there is a note highlighted in blue that reads, “Don’t focus so much on where you are that you lose your excitement about where you’re headed. There’s so much more that God has in store for you. Let that be enough to keep you going.”

And whenever I post a picture or a note it is always followed by a scripture. This particular scripture read, But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV) Then a question popped out at me…”Do you really love God?”

Many of us have heard this scripture quoted numerous times where our hearing only got to the first three verses because of this prosperity preaching and kind of glossed over the fact the first three verses are contingent on “…those who love Him.” Prosperity preaching has almost gotten some of us lost and forgotten the most important foundational scripture. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deut. 6:5 NKJV)

This must’ve been profoundly important because Jesus reiterated it again when one of the Pharisees asked him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment, (Matthew 22:36-37a) This reiteration would, to this writer, emphasize the importance of remembering that specific scripture.

This love is not predicated on the pretense of loving God…

This love is not predicated on the pretense of loving God for what He can give you but on loving God for who He is. Then our focus would be re-adjusted to the Giver and not the gift. Our love for God would be true and pure—a genuine love instead of one that is motive-generated. An agape love. In the Christian world, agape (/ɑːˈɡɑːpeɪ, ˈɑːɡəˌpeɪ, ˈæɡə-/; from Ancient Greek ἀγάπη (agápē)) is “the highest form of love, charity” and “the love of God for mankind and of mankind for God.”

Once we have agape love in our hearts then God will know that we really do love Him and others.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9a NKJV)

Thank you so much for your continued readership and support. Until next week…Blessings and Peace!

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