As Christians we are supposed to love God. I won't get into the whole theological argument on why as my thoughts today are on how. If you don't know why we should love God this isn't the post for you. Any why and I will try to direct you to the nugget of insight.

How should we love God? Is it by going to church? Praying daily? Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15). I find this pretty significant since Jesus is asking us to do something and not just feel the love. All too often I find myself with other Christians who aren't doing but feeling. Maybe it's in church where someone is silent at worship and just enjoying and feeling the music. Maybe it's someone feels great listening to a David Crowder Band CD but not helping someone with full arms open a door.

Bob's post on The Trifecta left me asking how we can love God with 3 of the things he personally gave each of us. Our bodies, our minds, and our souls. I found a common thread that goes between these in how we love God. It's about what we take into these and what we put out from them. And, in the flavor "you are what you eat" what we take in affects what we put out. Matthew 6:22-23 says,

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

What does this have to do with loving God? Loving God means we watch what we put into our bodies, minds, and souls. It means that we don't put bad things in like porn, gossip TV and magazines, hateful and degrading music, and millions of other things in this world. It means we should study scripture, listen to Gods message through pastors, and listen to hymns (not saying exclusively).

What we take in affects what we comes out of us. Coming out of us shouldn't be hateful things, shouldn't be temptation for others, shouldn't be unkind words or actions, and shouldn't be sin. Sadly, we can't get this out of our lives completely. But, by taking in good things we can reduce the bad that comes out of us.

Out of us should be honest active worship, serving others, serving God, compassionate words, and good actions. This kind of reminds me of the fruits of the spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

We are what we take in. If we take in the sin of the world our bodies, minds, and souls will be the sin of the world. We won't be living in it but being of it. We need to take in God, His message, and receive His spirit so our minds, bodies, and souls can reflect and show that.

The next time I turn on prime time tv, pick up a magazine, or am out at the bar with friends I am going to be a little more cognizant of what is coming in and what is going out of me. How about you?