“Thou Shalt Love The Lord"

God commands us to love him. A teacher of the Law asked Jesus, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt. 22:35-37). This means we are to totally and completely love God. Impossible? Not when we consider all that God has done for us and the great love that He has for us (Rom. 5:7-8, John 3:16).

Many people claim to love God but how many know what loving God really involves? John answers, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (I John 5:3). And, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Therefore, we must conclude that the person who truly loves God is the one who will obey His commands. Have you ever searched the Scriptures for the word “obey”? Below are a few revealing passages:

(Acts 5:32) “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” (Rom. 2:8) “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.” (Rom. 6:16) “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Gal. 3:1a) “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth…?” (Heb. 5:9b) “…He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (1 Pet. 4:17) “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

True love for God is not determined by one’s feelings but by his faith response to God’s conditional promises and his actions pertaining to his duties as a “soldier of Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3). Many say that they love God, but in fact do not as they do not keep His commandments. If we do indeed love God, that love will be expressed through submission to his will.

The church of Christ at Forum welcomes visitors and/or private home studies. See the link below for contact information: www.ForumCOC.org