Love God

Our May study in LifeMatters transitions from understanding key truths of our faith to living a life of influence. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at examples of people from Scripture who modeled ways we can best impact the world around us with the gospel. We begin with Moses’ influence in the lives of the Israelites. From him, we see the important foundation of loving God put into practice. Out of our love for God stems our love for others. Consider the following devotion as you prepare to lead your group this weekend.

“Home is where your story begins.” That statement—popularly quoted on wall art and home decor—is a good reminder of the importance our home and family background has on who we are today (whether we like it or not). Both close-knit and broken families have a profound impact on our identities, interests, and beliefs. Our parents, grandparents, and other family members greatly influence our spiritual growth, modeling either godliness or ungodliness for us.

As Moses explained in this passage, we influence the lives of people younger than us, both in age and in spiritual maturity. According to Moses, the most important truth we can share with others is that God is worthy of our love (Deuteronomy 6:5). Moses wasn’t alone in this belief; Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 22:37-38—“He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.”

As a parent, the most important influence you have is on your child’s spiritual growth. But for those who aren’t parents, the influence options may be harder to recognize. Moses’ challenge affects how we pray for our future children and how we invest in the children in our lives today (nieces and nephews, children of friends, children in our churches, etc.). While our families are the starting point of our investment, we can also spiritually influence everyone in our lives, from coworkers to strangers. Everyone needs to know the importance of loving and worshiping the one true God.

Think back on your family life. What kind of spiritual leadership was modeled in your home, and how has that shaped who you are today?