I was intrigued with God's words in Jeremiah 29:13 that emphasize "all your heart." The same selection of words is elsewhere in the Bible. In fact they are repeated so many times, often with "...and soul," that it finally dawned on me that God must really mean it when He wants us to seek and find Him!

But, where exactly, is the "heart" with which we are to search? It couldn't be our physical heart. Although, this part of the body provides the central, tremendous task of pumping blood through veins and arteries, even the tiniest of capillaries, to keep the whole body alive, this organ does not provide the capacity of the brain to make us think, feel, or provide the will to do something.

According to Reverend Dennis and his wife, Rita Bennett in their book, Trinity of Man, we learn that humans are divided into three parts: Body, Soul and Spirit. The Body contains the physical parts with which we can see, hear, touch. The Soul encompasses the intellect, emotions, will. It is the human spirit, man's innermost part that is able to connect with God's Spirit.

What, then, did Jesus mean when He said, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." ? (Matthew 22:37) or the words from Deuteronomy 6:5, 6, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart..."

Scripture does separate "soul" from "spirit", and I would venture to suggest that when Jesus says, "heart", He means the inner man, his innermost being, the spirit of man which connects with God's Spirit.

"...Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)

Whatever the exact understanding of the words, Jesus makes it perfectly clear that we are to love the Lord, our God with our whole self: body, soul and spirit. Oh, and let's not forget to "...love your neighbor as yourself." ! (Matthew 22:39)

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© Constance Vanides