We live to bring glory to God as we obey the Great Commandment: Loving God . . .

You’ll immediately recognize that phrase as the first line of our church mission statement. Who decided that “loving God” is “the Great Commandment?” That would be Jesus! When asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Jesus, of course, was quoting Deuteronomy 6:5.

We know “loving God with all” we are is the greatest commandment because we read it in God’s Word, the Bible. We know Jesus embraced the Great Commandment because we read His words in the Bible. Trick question: How can you love God with all you are? (Here’s a hint—consider meeting God in the pages of His Word, the Bible.)

The Bible matters to us because it is God’s Holy, inspired Word. It is His book and its purpose is to guide us in knowing Him, loving Him, and obeying Him. There is really no substitute for engaging God in the Word He has provided for us. Knowing about God or His Word is no substitute for obeying Him.

Consider the first goal of our church strategic plan:

Loving God as a biblical congregation, we intend to lead our members to develop a lifestyle of personal obedience to God’s Word.

As simply as I know how to say it, every member of our church needs to open God’s Word every day—asking God to show them what to do . . . and they need to do what He says.

When tempted, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 from God’s Word: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). God’s Word is our spiritual nourishment. If you are only “filling your plate” at the Sunday buffet by church attendance, you’re not only malnourished and unhealthy, you’re probably pretty irritable (not to mention dizzy and weak). If you are counting on someone else to “feed you” every spiritual meal, you’re either an infant or an invalid.

Our church will be as strong and healthy and growing as you are, dear brother and sister. This is the year we get into God’s Word—each one of us—each day. Let’s love Him with all we’ve got!