Popular love songs often have lyrics that are adept at describing a Christian’s relationship with his God. Such are some of the words of the chorus of John Legend’s “All of Me.” Think about these words as if they were written about you and your Savior. “‘Cause all of me loves all of you…You’re my end and my beginning, Even when I lose I’m winning, ‘Cause I give you all of me, And you give me all of you.”
Now, don’t get distracted by this popular artist. Think about how these words simply reflect the words that Jesus used to depict our responsibility toward our God. In Mark 12:29-30, Jesus said that “the first of all the commandments is…You shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, with ALL your mind, and with ALL your strength.” What does that look like: “ALL of me loves ALL of You, my God!” “I give You all of me, my Savior!”
When we love the Lord with ALL of our heart, ALL of our soul, ALL of our mind and ALL of our strength, WHAT’S LEFT? God is not interested in having “a special place in your heart”—He is interested in having ALL of your heart. This may sound like wishful-thinking or best-case-scenario, but if that’s the case, why would the Lord be so emphatic on this point? Even in the Old Testament, Solomon wrote, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all” (Ecc. 12:13). This is man’s what? This is man’s “all”! The WHOLE of man is to love and serve the WHOLE of God!
I must not hold anything back from the Lord in my service, for (think about this!) He did not hold back anything from me! “Lord, I give You all of me.” Why? “Because You gave me all of You!” God gave Himself (not someone else) to come to this earth (John 1:1-3, 14). God gave Himself (not someone or something else) on the cross (Phil. 2:6-8). God gives me, as His child, the opportunity to even be a “partaker” of His “divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4). What a thought!
How do I show the Lord (not just in mere words) that “all of me loves all of Him”? How can He know that “I give Him all of me”? It is reflected in my priorities on this earth (Col. 3:1-3). It is reflected in my sacrifice of self and denunciation of the world (Rom. 12:1-2). It is reflected in my love for and involvement in the church (Matt. 6:33). It is reflected in my worship of Him (Col. 3:16). It is reflected in my daily choices (1 Pet. 2:9-12). It is reflected in my efforts to tell others about Him (1 Cor. 2:1-2).
God alone is worthy of my all! God alone is worthy of such love! I must give Him my all, not for my own sake, but for His own sake! He alone is worthy!