Nigeria, April 26 -- The first and great commandment enjoins us to:

"Love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind." (Matthew 22:37).

However, Christians seem largely unable to do this. The first commandment is expressed in tautological terms. The love that God requires permits no other love. But we love so many other things apart from God. These other loves compete with the love of God in our hearts.

Jesus asks Peter:

"Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" (John 21:15).

If we were to love anything else, it must be through and because of our love for God.

Personal Saviour

The Christian faith is very personal. Jesus says:

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy ...