Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38 NIV
Have you ever wondered how we do that? We usually associate love with a feeling. But is loving God a feeling? Is it an emotion? Or is it something else? I searched the Scriptures and this is what I learned:
First, We must love others.
“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 1 John 4:19-21 NIV
Second, We must know God. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture is God’s revelation of Himself. We must study the Bible to know the true God. If we don’t know Him, how can we love Him?
Some Christians today worship their own image of God, an image that serves their fleshly desires (to be financially rich, to have power, to be important, etc. This is worshiping an idol.
Third, We must understand our need for a Savior and accept His gift of grace. Because He loved us, He saved us. He paid a price we could not pay.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18 NIV
Fourth, We must seek to know and obey His commands. How can we say we love Him if we don’t seek to please Him? For example, are there sins stated in the Bible that we choose to ignore? Are there behaviors described in the Bible that are detestable to God, and yet we dismiss them as not applicable today?
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15 NIV
If a behavior was detestable to God in the Old Testament, it is still detestable to Him,
“I the LORD do not change.” Malachi 3:6 NIV
Fifth, To love God we must love the truth more than our own opinion.
This must be the cry of our heart:
“Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me…” Psalm 25:4-5a NIV
Sixth, We must trust Him.
“Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 NIV
Oh for grace to trust Him more!
Please share in the comments other ways we can show our love to God.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
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