DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LOVING GOD
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." (I John 5:2-3)
How do we know that we love God? The proof is in the puddin'. Our love for God is demonstrated by our love for His children and obedience to His commandments. Jesus gave us this commandment in John 13:34: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you; that you also love one another."
Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). It is easy to say, "I love you." But the proof that love is whether I keep His word. Love is proven by actions – what we do.
God showed the pattern for love. John wrote earlier in this letter, "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (I John 4:9-10). God did not just say that He loves us, but He demonstrated it His love by action. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16).
In the same way, our love for God is not just what we say, but how we live in obedience to His will and our desire to please Him.
The first and greatest commandment is this: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). When we think of His great love for us, our love for Him should be a natural response.
His commandments are not burdensome. That is, it is not a drudgery to live God's way. Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). If someone feels that serving God is a heavy weight and an obligation, they do not understand God's love toward us nor our love for Him. Or if I serve God only to escape Hell, then I do not know love. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear (I John 4:18).
It is like marriage. Love is not a duty I have to fulfill. If it is burden to serve my spouse and be faithful to her, then I do not understand love.
In the end, we love Him because He first loved us (I John 4:19). God initiated the love cycle. We only return that love because of His love for us.
Love, Dad
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