The Single Priority Every Follower of Jesus Must Have

Just saying that there is a single priority you must have sounds dangerous. Aren’t we all different? Are we all in different circumstances? So is there a single priority for everyone? Jesus said there was – and we are following Jesus, so we should listen!

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “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.’ 

Mark 12:28–30 (ESV)

So, there is it. Your priority: Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – in other words with everything we’ve got!

Unpacking the Priority

Love is the first word we take note of. And in this verse it is a verb – it is what we are to  do! It’s not a noun – what we have. It’s not an adjective – what we feel. It is a verb – a call to action!

10 Reasons to love God

He loves us. No matter what we’ve done or failed to do. No matter if our attitude is good or bad. He loves us. and never stops!

He blesses us. There are many ways he blesses us – I guess everything on this list but there is a blessing from God that defies description. It is something we experience in every circumstance of life.

He gives us hope. We have an inextinguishable hope that sustains us through all of life. It is a gift from God!

He gives us purpose. When we follow Jesus, he gives us an eternal purpose within the Kingdom of God. He allows us to make a profound and transformational difference in the world.

He provides protection. No matter what is happening, we can be sure his hand of protection is on us. As long as he has work for us to do, we can be sure that we are safe. When our work on earth is over, we can be sure we are going home to be with him.

He never leaves us. In a world where abandonment is common, he is faithfully with us all the way!

He gives us strength. He gives us strength to continue to follow and to bear up under all circumstances of life.

He gives us power. His presence in our lives allows us to obey and bring supernatural power into many different circumstances.

He gives us every good thing. Since God alone is good and since every good and perfect gift comes from him (James 1:17) – all of the good things of life are from him!

He gives us eternal abundant life. This is the promise and the present experience of every follower of Jesus.

Love

But wait – the word for love is from the Greek agape – it’s unconditional love. It’s a love that originates from God and requires no reason or justification to give. In other words, when we follow Jesus, he gives us an endless supply of this love. If you are not following Jesus, here’s how. We then give it back to God with all that we have! So, we love God no matter what happens.

We love God:

Even if he doesn’t answer prayer as we want

Even when our circumstances are difficult

Even when we are frustrated with life

Even when people treat us badly

Even when we suffer unexplained loss

Even when we are struggling

Even when we get ourselves in trouble

Even when we run out of patience

Even when we live with uncertainty

Even when things are going good

Our love for God never depends on our circumstances. We are to love God no matter what!

Get Serious

Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? Jesus clearly states this as the most important thing we can do!