Loving the LORD our God

I realized this morning in my Bible reading that I had not fully grasp the Hebrew idea of loving God we studied last week in our Lenten Bible Study.

The words Heart and Soul really capture the essense of who we are in body and spirit.

These two words are found in 58 passages in the Bible. All but 4 of which are in the Old Testament. Hope this gives you some perspective.
　
Here is an example:
　
Deut 10:12 And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? NIV

For the Greek it was appropriate to give an expanded definition of what we are:

Luke 10:27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'NIV
　
There are only the 3 gospel passages in the Bible that include mind, except for an unrelated statement in:

1 Sam 14:6-7 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." 7 "Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." NIV

There is one passage including the word spirit:

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. NIV

The word strength is used only 4 times, in Deuteronomy and Mark & Luke and also in:

2 Kings 23:24 Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord. 25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did — with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. NIV