Love God?When I first got saved, I used to have a problem trying to relate to the Fatherand Jesus in an attitude of love. It was difficult because I had never seenJesus or the Father, and the only way I knew to love was, in some way, to tellsomeone you loved them.Or you could hug them, kiss them, hold their hand, cuddle them, or give themsomething. I tried telling God that I loved Him, but I never really feltsatisfied that I was expressing that love. I could say, "I love you," and thatwas nice for starters, but that was not sufficient by itself.To me, there had to be some demonstration that went along with what I said.One day, I was reading the Word, and I found out how to love God. I found outhow to love Him in a way that I know I am loving Him, that He is receiving mylove, and that He is satisfied with my demonstration of my love to Him.Jesus says in the first part of John 14:21:"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me...."I want to immediately arrest your attention to the fact that when Jesus sayscommandments, He is not just talking about the Ten Commandments. If you thinkonly of the Ten Commandments, you will shortchange yourself.Anything God says to do is a commandment. God does not fool around withsuggestions. He does not mess with reading between the lines. He directly tellsyou what He wants. When He tells you, it is a command--no ifs, ands, or butsabout it.The reason we should do it, according to Jesus, is out of love. If we love God,we should make it a point to do what He commands in John 14:21-23:"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And He wholoves Me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself tohim." Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifestYourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Ifanyone loves Me, he will keep My word...."That leaves a whole lot of people out of the picture. If you are doing God'sWord, you are tithing. You are not a fornicator, an adulterer or adulteress, ora gossiper. You are not lying, nor stealing. You are doing everything God tellsyou to do in His Word.That also means that you are seeking the Kingdom of God first, and Hisrighteousness.You have time for Bible studies.You have time for prayer.Also notice that Jesus does not use the word perfect here. We should be glad forthat. If the word perfect were in this verse, it would leave us all out. PraiseGod that word is not there.Jesus goes on to say in John 14:23-24:"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and my Father will love him, and Wewill come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love me does notkeep my words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sentMe."This is how God interprets your love to Him -- not by sending Him a card atValentine's Day, not by sending Him a box of candy. Jesus says, "If a man lovesMe, He will keep My word." If you love God, you will do His Word. Jesus alsosays, "He who does not love Me does not keep My words."A person who does not love God is someone who is not doing His Word -- and youhave to be the judge as to whether or not you are doing God's Word.
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