We’re told that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). But what is strength? Webster defines the word as: the quality or state of being strong, capacity for endurance, power to resist force and attack, a moral force. We can conclude then that this is not just physical strength that being talked about… it’s intellectual, emotional, spiritual.
For me, what I found interesting is that when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was He quoted from Deuteronomy but did not use the word ‘strength’ (Matthew 22:37). At least my translation reads that way. I did wonder but simply accepted that ‘strength’ was implied. And when you look at that description, you see that the commandment does include ALL of you. Trust me, to love according to this definition will require strength.
So, do you consider yourself strong? What threatens your strength? What strengthens your strength? All those questions require answers – they are not rhetorical. Simply ignoring threats to this love will never help. It’s how you respond and what you do that strengthens love. Love is never weak. Look at how Paul describes it in 1Corinthians 12. Love is a force and it is all encompassing. But love is always tested.
To love completely, totally is our choice. I realize that there are those who may disagree but I can’t comprehend a partial loving. This simply is not possible. Love is one of those either/or words. If we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind then this will take all our strength. I think Dietrich Bonheoffer said it best, “Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.”
