Nurturing One's Relationship with God
| 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 neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew22:37-40) |
As we continue reflecting on the question "How do we engage?", we are reminded that all meaningful engagement begins with our relationship with God. Before we can engage with our communities, our neighbours, or the challenges of our time, we must first be rooted in love --- the love that flows from knowing and walking with God. Jesus teaches us that the foundation of all engagement is love for God and love for others.
Our relationship with God is the heartbeat of our faith. When Jesus summarized the commandments as loving God and loving others, He revealed that genuine engagement with the world flows from a vibrant relationship with Him. To love God "with all your heart, soul, and mind" is to place Him at the centre of our lives --- to allow His love to shape our emotions, our identity, and our thoughts.
Nurturing this relationship takes time, intention, and care. Just as we cannot maintain a close friendship without communication, we cannot grow close to God without prayer, reflection, and obedience.
- Through prayer, we share our hearts with Him and listen for His guidance.
- Through Scripture, we come to know His character and promises.
- Through worship, we express our gratitude and devotion.
- Through obedience, we demonstrate that our love is genuine.
When our love for God deepens, it transforms how we see and treat others. The second commandment --- to love our neighbour as ourselves --- becomes the natural expression of the first. Our compassion, forgiveness, and acts of justice are not performed out of duty, but flow from a heart that has been touched by divine love.
In a world filled with noise and distractions, nurturing one's relationship with God requires a conscious choice. It means setting aside time to be still before Him, to listen, to reflect, and to grow. The more we nurture our relationship with God, the more we are equipped to engage with the world around us in truth, grace, and love. Deepening our relationship with Him is not a once-off event, but a daily journey of surrender, love, and growth. When we give God our heart, soul, and mind, we find strength to love others genuinely and to engage the world with compassion and purpose. A heart that is nurtured by God's presence becomes a heart that transforms the spaces it touches
Prayer: Loving God, draw me closer to You each day. Teach me to love You with all my heart, soul, and mind. Help me to nurture my relationship with You through prayer, worship, and obedience. May my engagement with others reflect Your love and truth. Let my life be a witness of Your grace in the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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Bukelwa Hans married to Howard and blessed with 4 children and 10 grandchildren. She is a Retired minister in the Central Cape Presbytery.
