If you love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 (NKJV)
Must love be proven? If you have to buy something to show love, is it really love? Can a gesture or words alone bridge the gap between two individuals? We often hear people talking about showing love to others. Everyone wants to be loved and most people want to love others in return.
But God proves His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11)
Loving God goes beyond mere confessing of words or being sentimental and emotional. It’s attending to and believing His word and commandments with great care.
Love and relationship with God is the source that helps us to treasure and guard His commands in our hearts. Observing God’s commands are not meant to be burdensome or grievous (1 John 5:3) but is rejoicing the heart, is pure (Psalm 19:8), is just, is good (Romans 7:12), is perfect making us wiser (Psalm 19:7) and is a blessing (Deuteronomy 11:27). Lord Jesus Christ sums up the law in two commands – Love God and love our fellow beings. (Matt 22:37-40).
The proper source of obedience is love and prepares us to receive the Holy Spirit’s help to grow in deeper intimacy with God.
In the new covenant, God writes His commandments on our hearts and He gives us the power to carry out His will!
