Do we really love God? Not sure if we do. This is why… “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15. Do we keep the Lord’s commands on a daily basis? Who among you keep the sabbath holy? God asked us, believers, a question back then still relevant to today’s believers, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46.
“But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28. Unblessed are those who deviate from the instructions set by the Lord! Followers of the way, listen carefully to this: Either you are with God or you are with the Devil. When we decide to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, we are to carry his cross with us and deny the world’s temptations less and less. Much grace we will need, of course.
Let me extend this firmer though with more scripture…
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. Giving our lives to the Lord is the only alternative to prove our love to Him.
It has also been written, “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33. If we don’t follow these God’s directives, do we really love God or simple say we love Him? When we are in God, we willingly say no to sin and strive to live a life for Jesus Christ.
We need to have the strong faith and actions of the psalmist, “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.” Psalm 119:30. Remember the words of Jesus in John 14:23, “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:22-25.
Oh God, have pity of us for our faith inadequacy and weak flesh. Not all of us know what is written in exodus 19:5, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.” Help us to be more like you and “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” Psalm 143:10.
Love? Love is following your commandments, repenting and sining less, oh God. “Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4: 39-40.
Anything else other than following God’s commands? Not love, not quite, not really.