Growing in Your Love for Jesus Part 3 - Full Sermon | Dr. Michael Youssef

By the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Jewish leaders mandated that every child recite the Shema twice daily. Despite the proclamation, however, when their promised Messiah finally showed up, they rejected Him. They had proclaimed love for God, but denied it in their practice.
The Pharisees sought to trick Jesus into teaching something contrary to Moses, Jesus’s response was to quote the Old Testament:
'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 22:32-39
He did not give them new teachings, but affirmation of what God’s word already said. Love begins, continues, and ends with a product of the mind: commitment. Commitment is the determination that changing fortunes and emotions will not distract you from loving Jesus, and keeping Him foremost in your heart.
Loving God with all of our minds means that God gets the first fruit of our days, our money, and first consultation with any endeavor. This decision of the will is the foundation for loving God with your heart and soul.
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The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987.
Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector.
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