January 6th, 2026
by Casey Long
by Casey Long
Becoming What We Love: The Foundation of Our Faith
There's a profound truth woven throughout Scripture that we often overlook: we become what we love. Not merely what we think, but what we truly love in the depths of our hearts. This isn't just theological theory—it's the operating system of our spiritual lives.
The Foundation: God Is Love
John 3:16 reminds us that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. This isn't just a verse to memorize; it's the bedrock of everything. God didn't just demonstrate love or feel love—God IS love. You cannot separate Him from love. It's His very essence, His nature, His identity.
If God is love, and we were made in His image (Genesis 1:26), then we were created from love, by love, and for love. When God formed humanity from the dust and breathed life into us (Genesis 2:7), He was breathing love itself into our being. We are walking vessels designed to contain and reflect the love of our Creator.
This is why Jesus tells us to "remain in my love." It's not a suggestion—it's an invitation to live in our true design, our intended purpose.
The Compass of Our Hearts
We often hear that "you are what you think," and while there's truth there, something deeper is at work. Think of your heart as a compass on a ship. Whatever direction that compass points, that's where you'll end up—even if you don't consciously realize you've set the course.
At the beginning of a journey, being slightly off course doesn't seem catastrophic. But as the miles accumulate, that small deviation becomes a massive distance from your intended destination. The same is true spiritually. What we love—what we truly desire—sets our compass and determines our trajectory.
Proverbs 4:23 warns us: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Our hearts are the chamber of our love, and our loves point us in the direction we move toward. Matthew 6:21 puts it plainly: "For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure."
The First Commandment: No Other Gods
The first commandment isn't arbitrary—it's foundational. "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). Everything hinges on this position of our hearts. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He didn't hesitate: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
But here's where it gets uncomfortable: What other gods have we positioned before the one true God?
These aren't carved idols in our homes. They're the things we check first thing in the morning. The relationships we think will finally make us happy. The achievements we believe will give us worth. The possessions we're convinced will bring peace. Even good things—family, ministry, success—become idols when we believe we need them more than we need God.
Our phones alone have become modern golden calves, stealing our attention, fragmenting our focus, and rewiring our brains to crave constant stimulation. We scroll endlessly, searching for something to satisfy, when satisfaction has been available all along in the presence of God.
The Law Written on Our Hearts
When Jesus came, He didn't abolish the law—He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17-18). And through the new covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:33, God writes His law on our hearts. We're no longer people straining to follow external rules. The law becomes our internal compass, pointing us toward the kingdom of God.
This is incredibly good news. The law isn't a burden—it's a mirror showing us what love looks like in action. It's the order of love, the structure of the kingdom. When our loves are rightly ordered—God first, others second, self last—we naturally walk in the ways of the kingdom.
Overcoming Through Surrender
Here's the beautiful paradox: we overcome not by trying harder, but by surrendering completely. Like a small child who is fully dependent on their father, we must stop trying to govern our own lives and instead become obedient to Jesus.
The word "obedience" actually means "attentive listening." So the question becomes: Who are you listening to? What are you giving your attention to? What masters you?
Romans 6:16 reminds us that we become slaves to whatever we obey—either sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness. There is overcoming power available. There is victory over the things that bind us. But it requires taking God seriously, laying down our idols, and saying, "I can't do this on my own. I need Your help, Lord."
A Christmas Gift for the King
As we celebrate the season of Christ's birth, what better gift could we give the newborn King than to lay down everything we've placed before Him? To clear the throne room of our hearts and let Him reign supreme?
This isn't about performance or earning favor. It's about freedom. It's about finally experiencing the peace, joy, and contentment that can only come from having our loves rightly ordered.
First John 5 declares that whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory—our faith. We are overcomers not because we're strong enough, but because we believe Jesus is the Son of God. We're like mangers—humble, imperfect vessels—but when we invite the King to be born in us, everything changes.
The Invitation
So what needs to be laid down today? What idol needs to be toppled? What false affection needs to be confessed and surrendered?
The things we think will make us happy apart from God will never satisfy. They'll only keep us hungry, always needing more, never filled. But when we turn from those empty wells and drink from the living water, when we stop trying to be the king of our own lives and let Jesus take His rightful place, freedom comes.
O come, let us adore Him—not with our lips only, but with the full affection of our hearts. Let us become what we were made to be: great lovers, reflecting the greatest Lover who ever lived.
(This blog was created from Casey Long's original sermon using pulpit.ai)
There's a profound truth woven throughout Scripture that we often overlook: we become what we love. Not merely what we think, but what we truly love in the depths of our hearts. This isn't just theological theory—it's the operating system of our spiritual lives.
The Foundation: God Is Love
John 3:16 reminds us that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. This isn't just a verse to memorize; it's the bedrock of everything. God didn't just demonstrate love or feel love—God IS love. You cannot separate Him from love. It's His very essence, His nature, His identity.
If God is love, and we were made in His image (Genesis 1:26), then we were created from love, by love, and for love. When God formed humanity from the dust and breathed life into us (Genesis 2:7), He was breathing love itself into our being. We are walking vessels designed to contain and reflect the love of our Creator.
This is why Jesus tells us to "remain in my love." It's not a suggestion—it's an invitation to live in our true design, our intended purpose.
The Compass of Our Hearts
We often hear that "you are what you think," and while there's truth there, something deeper is at work. Think of your heart as a compass on a ship. Whatever direction that compass points, that's where you'll end up—even if you don't consciously realize you've set the course.
At the beginning of a journey, being slightly off course doesn't seem catastrophic. But as the miles accumulate, that small deviation becomes a massive distance from your intended destination. The same is true spiritually. What we love—what we truly desire—sets our compass and determines our trajectory.
Proverbs 4:23 warns us: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Our hearts are the chamber of our love, and our loves point us in the direction we move toward. Matthew 6:21 puts it plainly: "For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure."
The First Commandment: No Other Gods
The first commandment isn't arbitrary—it's foundational. "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). Everything hinges on this position of our hearts. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He didn't hesitate: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
But here's where it gets uncomfortable: What other gods have we positioned before the one true God?
These aren't carved idols in our homes. They're the things we check first thing in the morning. The relationships we think will finally make us happy. The achievements we believe will give us worth. The possessions we're convinced will bring peace. Even good things—family, ministry, success—become idols when we believe we need them more than we need God.
Our phones alone have become modern golden calves, stealing our attention, fragmenting our focus, and rewiring our brains to crave constant stimulation. We scroll endlessly, searching for something to satisfy, when satisfaction has been available all along in the presence of God.
The Law Written on Our Hearts
When Jesus came, He didn't abolish the law—He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17-18). And through the new covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:33, God writes His law on our hearts. We're no longer people straining to follow external rules. The law becomes our internal compass, pointing us toward the kingdom of God.
This is incredibly good news. The law isn't a burden—it's a mirror showing us what love looks like in action. It's the order of love, the structure of the kingdom. When our loves are rightly ordered—God first, others second, self last—we naturally walk in the ways of the kingdom.
Overcoming Through Surrender
Here's the beautiful paradox: we overcome not by trying harder, but by surrendering completely. Like a small child who is fully dependent on their father, we must stop trying to govern our own lives and instead become obedient to Jesus.
The word "obedience" actually means "attentive listening." So the question becomes: Who are you listening to? What are you giving your attention to? What masters you?
Romans 6:16 reminds us that we become slaves to whatever we obey—either sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness. There is overcoming power available. There is victory over the things that bind us. But it requires taking God seriously, laying down our idols, and saying, "I can't do this on my own. I need Your help, Lord."
A Christmas Gift for the King
As we celebrate the season of Christ's birth, what better gift could we give the newborn King than to lay down everything we've placed before Him? To clear the throne room of our hearts and let Him reign supreme?
This isn't about performance or earning favor. It's about freedom. It's about finally experiencing the peace, joy, and contentment that can only come from having our loves rightly ordered.
First John 5 declares that whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory—our faith. We are overcomers not because we're strong enough, but because we believe Jesus is the Son of God. We're like mangers—humble, imperfect vessels—but when we invite the King to be born in us, everything changes.
The Invitation
So what needs to be laid down today? What idol needs to be toppled? What false affection needs to be confessed and surrendered?
The things we think will make us happy apart from God will never satisfy. They'll only keep us hungry, always needing more, never filled. But when we turn from those empty wells and drink from the living water, when we stop trying to be the king of our own lives and let Jesus take His rightful place, freedom comes.
O come, let us adore Him—not with our lips only, but with the full affection of our hearts. Let us become what we were made to be: great lovers, reflecting the greatest Lover who ever lived.
(This blog was created from Casey Long's original sermon using pulpit.ai)
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