All your soul..
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Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40 ~ "The Greatest Commandment" 34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
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'Love the Lord your God...with all your soul." What is the 'soul'?
It is good to pause for a moment and consider that question, although our answer will be somewhat limited this side of Heaven. If all your heart is everything you care about; if all your mind and all your strength are everything you think about and do; then what is left for all your soul? Eternity!
I think our souls is truly who we are. Our emotions change with our circumstances and maturity, as do our thought processes. Our bodies change drastically with our age. But our souls are eternal. The body houses the soul, and perhaps expresses it. Our souls, it seems are the framework on which and through which our visible selves are placed. Without the soul, we would be as animals. Animals can work hard, and show care and love, but souls are for us alone. There is something there that only people have that can connect to God. It, I believe, is the part of us created in God's image.
Our souls cry out to be connected with God, often barred by our actions, thoughts, and words.
But if we can control our tongues (a), our thoughts (b), and our bodies (c), then our souls can move freely, and wholly to the purpose to which they were created..
Loving God. Amen.
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Questions:
1. How would you define your soul?
2. How would you define "all your soul"?
3. How do you show Him love?
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May we love Him with all...all...our soul. Jim~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The history of the world suggests that without love of God there is little likelihood of a love for man that does not become corrupt." - Francois Fenelon
FOOTNOTES:
(a) When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:3-6
(b) For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery. Mark 7:21
(c) Each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable. 1 Thessalonians 4:4
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