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iLove - The Love Initiative

 Matthew 22:37-38 – “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”

            To take the initiative means to act before being asked, to step forward rather than wait, and to assume responsibility for doing what is needed. What is the Love Initiative? God took the initiative to love. He made the first move toward us. I John 4:19 says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”


            One of the most famous New Testament Scriptures is found in John 3:16. The first six words of this verse reads, “For God so loved the world.” What motivated the Father to send His only begotten Son into the world? Love. It is a love that cannot be completely explained but can be experienced because of His grace. 


            We must take the initiative to love God with our whole being. Matthew 22:37 says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is called the greatest commandment. Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 10:12, “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” 


            Psalms 31:23 says, “Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person.” To love God completely is to make your relationship with Him a priority. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” First things are important to God. 


When Moses sent the twelve spies into the land of Canaan only two brought back a good report. There was Joshua who became Moses’ successor and Caleb who wholeheartedly followed the Lord. In Joshua 14:8 we learn, “Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God.” What a powerful testimony. Can we say the same, “we have completely followed the Lord?” We must love the Lord with our whole heart.

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