Mark 12:30 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… Because many deceive themselves in thinking that they love God, when they do not, it is needful to set down the marks of the true love of God, by which we may ascertain whether it be in us or not. The principal are these: 1. A deliberate preferring and esteeming of God above all things in the world, though never so excellent or dear to us. 2. A desire to be united and joined to God in most near communion with Him, both in this life and the next. 3. A high estimation of the special tokens and pledges of God's love to us — the Bible, Sacraments, etc. 4. A conscientious care to obey God's will, and to serve and honour Him in our calling. 5. Joy and delight in the duties of God's service and worship. 6. Zeal for God's glory, causing in us a holy grief and indignation when we see or hear that God is dishonoured by sin. 7. Love is bountiful, making us willing and ready to give and bestow much upon the person we love. 8. True love to the saints and children of God. (G. Petter.) Parallel Verses KJV: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. |
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