Loving God
Introduction
In the well-known “Great Commandment,” Jesus directed His followers to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” How do we develop and sustain this love relationship with God?
Scripture references
Study the following biblical references and consider how they address the questions listed below. If using this outline with a small group, consider assigning questions and Scriptures to different individuals, or take one or more of the questions per week, adding scriptural references from the group as you meet. Then, perhaps in later weeks, scroll down the page to review our recommended resources for the topic of Loving God and consider how the various articles or podcasts provide further insights relating to this topic.
Questions
- Why should we love God? Matthew 22:36-40; 1 John 3:1, 4:19; Psalm 31:21-23
- How do we show love for God? Psalm 18:1-3; John 14:15, 21; I John 4:7-21
- How do we develop love for God? 2 Thessalonians 3:5; Jude 21; Psalm 100; Psalm 101:1-2
- What are some things which distract us from love of God? Matthew 10:37-39; Mark 4:18-19; Matthew 6:24; Revelation 2:4-5
- The New Testament translates two Greek words as “love,” phileo and agape. The former may be translated as “tender affection,” as of a parent for a child or a friend for a friend; the latter is difficult to translate directly because it is almost unique to the New Testament. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says of agape “…it expresses the deep and constant ‘love’ and interest of a perfect Being toward entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential ‘love’ in them towards the Giver, and a practical ‘love’ towards those who are partakers of the same.” Jesus uses agape in the Great Commission, but then apparently accepts Peter’s phileo as a profession of Peter’s love for Him. What are we to make of all this? 1 Corinthians 13:1-7; John 21:15-17
- Do you love God? How do you know?
Recommended Resources
The following resources are meant to get you started in the subdomain of Loving God.
Two General Orders
As we seek a warrior's ethic for today we can reasonably look back 3000 years to another man of arms—arguably the greatest soldier ever to serve the nation of Israel, David, youngest son of Jesse. The ethic of David may be seen as consisting of two general orders: Do the Right Thing and Trust in God.
Stoking the Fire
Got fire for the Lord? Keep it burning by stoking your flame. We must tend to the fire-to the love relationship with our Lord. Anything less is abandonment. Remembering, repenting, and returning stokes that fire and results in peace and power.
Growing your affections for Christ | Episode 007
LTC Tom Schmidt, USA (Ret.), chats with CH(MAJ) Mark Winton, USA, on the topic of “affections for Christ.” Our affections are typically rooted in our answer to this question: “What are our heart longings for?” As CH Winton suggests, our answer ultimately shows what drives our hearts and where our affections lie.
Calling All Daniels: Do You Know God?
The world desperately needs to hear about Jesus, and we’ve been called to share Him. I encourage you to become competent in your knowledge of Him. Draw people through your professional excellence. Be prepared through your life and words to shine His life-saving light.
44. Brigit Jogan: Experiencing God on the mountaintop
First Class Cadet Brigit Jogan, a senior at the United States Coast Guard Academy, hiked the summit of Mount Antero in Colorado’s Collegiate Peaks during her time at Rocky Mountain High this past summer, and it was during that physical climb to the mountaintop that she experienced the Spirit of God moving in a mighty way. Today, Brigit is going to talk about that experience as she shares her story.
Additional Resources
OCF offers many extra resources as you continue digging into the subdomain of Loving God.
Your purpose? Proclaim the Gospel everywhere
You and I are in the lineage of Cornelius because of our union with Christ. Proclaim the gospel as a testimony to the military community (all nations).
Your Chapel: An Opportunity for Outreach and Service
Christ-centered chapel programs may involve your participation.
You Are Commissioned
You are commissioned to do the Lord's work as professional military servants.
Wrestling with Depression
Keep these thoughts in mind when facing depression.
Worrying or waiting?
Life in general is complicated. Life in the military is extremely difficult and challenging and carries with it an increasing amount of angst with the operations tempo, separations, threats to life and limb, and the increasing challenges from within our own nation.
Working for a Difficult Boss
We all have to serve or work for someone at some time in our lives.
With the Love of a Clanging Cymbal
When our speech lacks the love of Christ, Scripture clearly declares we are just a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Will you embrace the Christ of Christmas?
Soon, Christmas nativity scenes and all the Christmas season trappings will be packed away into storage for another year. But the unopened package-the Christ of Christmas-remains for the taking, offering lasting hope and future beyond our often dreary, heart-breaking world.
Why We Serve
Why do you serve in our military? Why are you an officer, an Airmen, a Soldier, a Marine, a Sailor, or a Coastguardsman?
Whose Arm Doth Reach
Every God-fearing dad in some way strives to image our heavenly Father.
Who planted the seed of leadership in your mind?
Do you recall when someone spoke into your life and a vision was cast? Are you intentionally doing the same with those you serve?
When PCSing, build a RAFT for teens
When PCSing, the most common strategies teens use with one another involve simple avoidance, picking a fight to create distance so it’s easier to leave, disconnecting through moodiness or hyperactivity, or adopting the “It’s all cool” act. This is why we need to build a RAFT.
When faced with an overwhelming transition, how do you respond?
Christians worship God through every transition that He brings into our lives, both in and out of the military. Some are painful transitions, others are exciting and fun, but each one comes from the hand of God.
When Duty Calls
Challenges are unique for married-to-each-other military with families when duty calls
Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God
How does a faithful walk with Jesus give life, context, and direction to the exercise of military leadership? What opportunities do I have for doing good for others’ welfare and for God’s glory?
What’s Your Altitude
Did you know that your altitude determines your attitude? Jesus, the highest being there ever was and ever will be, voluntarily lowered Himself.
What’s So Amazing About Grace | Episode 003
In this episode, OCF Managing Editor Karen Fliedner chats with Col Art Athens, USMC (Ret), about amazing grace—specifically, the four-part message Col Athens shared at a weekend retreat at White Sulphur Springs in 2004
What you do and how you lead does matter
Congratulations to the OCF Class of 2012! We who have gone before welcome you to the profession of arms and the start of your great race the Lord has set before you. Crossing the threshold, you now carry two commissions simultaneously: one conferred on you from our Commander in Chief and one from the King of kings.
What Works for New Officers?
Ten habits of highly effective Second Lieutenants and Ensigns
What supporting the chaplaincy looks like | Episode 021
CH(COL) Marc Gauthier, USA (Ret.), shares his story of how God called him into the military to serve as a chaplain, how to encourage chaplains outside the Christian faith, a story of what it looks like when a leader integrates his faith and profession, and his thoughts on who the two loneliest people are in the military, and why.
What Right Looks Like
With the ability of the media to reach out to all corners of the globe and to report on the conduct, or misconduct, of soldiers, leaders have an even greater responsibility than ever to demonstrate what right looks like.
What is Stewardship?
In Part 1, we ask: What do you think of when you hear someone mention stewardship? Money, talents, or ownership? For many, money is the first thing on their minds and that often leads to uncomfortable feelings.
What is Required of Me?
Become a person who influences others for Christ.
What is OCF?
It’s not unusual to hear people ask, “What is OCF?” or “What does OCF do?” They may wonder if OCF is a club of officers like-minded in their Christian faith, or just the local Bible study fellowship they attend.
What is Christian Mentoring?
According to the Barna Group, a market research firm specializing in studying religious beliefs and behavior, as of 2015 only 17% of practicing Christians said they meet regularly with a spiritual mentor.