Do You Love God?

Carrol R. Sutton

Many blessings are promised to the people who love God. In Romans 8:28 the apostle Paul said; "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,..." James said, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." In John 14:23-24 Jesus said; "if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

To sum up what we have read in the preceding passages: A "crown of life" is promised to them that "love Him;" The Father and the Son will come and make their abode with the person that loves the Lord, and all things work together for good to them that love God.

Do you love God? Do you love Jesus Christ? Really? You probably think you do, but do you, really? Unless you keep God's commandments, your claim to love the Lord is false! John says: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous." (1 John 5:3). He also said "And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment, that, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." (2 John 6). Jesus Christ said; "If you love me, keep my commandments", and "He that hath them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:15,21).

If you do not keep the saying of the Lord, you do not really love Him! IF YOU LOVE HIM YOU WILL KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS! You won't try to find a way to get around what the Lord says, if you love Him. But you will hunger and thirst after His righteousness.

To be saved from past sins and thus become a child of God, one must believe that Jesus is the Son of God. (See Acts 16:31 & John 20:30-31). One must repent of his sins. (See Acts 17:30-31 & Acts 2:38). One must confess Jesus as Lord (Rom 10:9-10). One must be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38 & Mark 16:16).

Have you obeyed these commands? How much do you love God?

(Taken from the "Instructor", Volume 21, Number 6, June 1984, by Carrol R. Sutton)