Love for God

Mike Johnson

The Bible teaches that we are to love God. Matthew 22 reveals a case where some Pharisees were questioning Jesus. A scribe asked Him what the greatest commandment was. In verse 37 Jesus replied, “ . . . Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” We are to totally and completely love God. When we consider all that God has done for us and the great love that He has for us, then loving Him should not be difficult. (Rom. 5:7-8, Jn. 3:16).

What does it really mean to love God? Many people claim to love Him. We are told, however, in I John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” Thus, the person who really loves God is the one who will obey His commands. True love for God is not a mere sentiment; it is practical. Real love for God is not just an empty expression of the fact, as the one who really loves God will obey Him. Jesus also expressed this idea in John 14:15 when He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Many people today say that they love God, but really do not as they do not keep His commandments. Do we really love God? The answer can be seen in our lives.