Day 3 - Week 13 - Deuteronomy 6:6 - "These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart."

"Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart."

Loving God...how does that look?  Or maybe more importantly, how does that not look?

I know it does not look like selfishness.

Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.

  Matthew 16:24

I know it does not look like greediness.

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.  Luke 12:15

I know it does not look like pridefulness.

Take my yoke on you and become like me, for I am gentle and without pride, and you will have rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:29

I know it does not look like hate.

Get rid of all hard feelings, anger and rage. Stop all fighting and lying. Put away every form of hatred.  Ephesians 4:31

I know it does not look like the world.

It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.  Titus 2:12-14

Jesus told His disciples fairly clearly what loving God looks like....

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command. ..... This is my command: Love each other.  John 15:8-14, 17

...and John reminded those reading his letter nearly 70 years later....

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.  1 John 4:20-21

So if we are to love God with all our heart, with all our mind and with all our strength, how do we show it?  By turning our hearts, our minds and our strength into actions of His love directed to His children throughout the world.  We cannot turn our backs on the needs of people...we need to be brokenhearted over suffering, injustice and abuse.  Pray for God to direct you into your personal area of  showing His love to someone in need of His love...and then you will be showing your love for Him.