The Love of God
God loves all of us. He proved that forever when Jesus died on the cross for us. The love of God that is in question is our love for Him. How can we tell if we love God? There is a way given to us by John the Apostle, as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to share the truth.(I John 5:3) If we truly love God, we will keep His commandments, and they will not be burdensome to us. Let me explain.
When we are in love with another person, we gladly do what they want us to do or what they need us to do for them, and it is not a burden to us. The same is true with the Lord. I think about Jacob in Genesis 29:20. Laban tricked him into marrying his older daughter Leah, when Jacob thought he was marrying Rachel. When he found out the switch had taken place without his knowledge, he was upset, but he still loved Rachel. Laban required him to work seven more years before he could marry Rachel. "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him, because of the love he had for her."(Genesis 29:20) That was genuine love. When we have genuine love for the Lord, we will be the same way about keeping His commandments.
This is a good test for the condition of our love for God. How are you doing? If you are not keeping His commandments, or if they are a burden to you, it is a love problem. That is a serious problem that needs to be corrected quickly before any more damage is done to your relationship with God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read III John, Jude, and Revelation 1.
When we are in love with another person, we gladly do what they want us to do or what they need us to do for them, and it is not a burden to us. The same is true with the Lord. I think about Jacob in Genesis 29:20. Laban tricked him into marrying his older daughter Leah, when Jacob thought he was marrying Rachel. When he found out the switch had taken place without his knowledge, he was upset, but he still loved Rachel. Laban required him to work seven more years before he could marry Rachel. "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him, because of the love he had for her."(Genesis 29:20) That was genuine love. When we have genuine love for the Lord, we will be the same way about keeping His commandments.
This is a good test for the condition of our love for God. How are you doing? If you are not keeping His commandments, or if they are a burden to you, it is a love problem. That is a serious problem that needs to be corrected quickly before any more damage is done to your relationship with God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read III John, Jude, and Revelation 1.