The Sacred Command to Love God
When Jesus declares love for God as the greatest commandment, He reveals a profound truth: love is not merely emotion but a volitional act of worship that transforms our entire being.
The Nature of Biblical Love for God
| Aspect | Description | Scriptural Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Volitional | A choice rather than mere feeling | Deuteronomy 6:5; Joshua 24:15 |
| Supernatural | Enabled by the Holy Spirit | Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22 |
| Transformational | Reshapes our affections | Psalm 37:4; Romans 12:2 |
| Comprehensive | Engages all our faculties | Mark 12:30 |
How to Cultivate Love for God
- Receive His Love First – “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19)
- Know Him Deeply – Study His character in Scripture (Psalm 9:10)
- Choose Daily Allegiance – “Set your minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2)
- Practice Spiritual Disciplines – Prayer, worship, obedience (John 14:15)
- Renounce Worldly Affections – “Do not love the world” (1 John 2:15)
The Progression of Divine Love
- Command – “Love the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
- Capacity – “God’s love poured into our hearts” (Romans 5:5)
- Choice – “I have chosen the way of faithfulness” (Psalm 119:30)
- Character – “The fruit of the Spirit is love” (Galatians 5:22)
- Communion – “He who loves Me will be loved by My Father” (John 14:21)
Warning Signs of Diminishing Love
| Warning | Remedy |
|---|---|
| Cooling affections (Revelation 2:4) | Remember your first love |
| Worldly compromise (1 John 2:15) | Radical allegiance to Christ |
| Religious routine (Matthew 15:8) | Heart engagement in worship |
The Journey From Duty to Delight
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1). What begins as obedience to a command matures into the soul’s deepest satisfaction as we discover that in loving God, we become most truly ourselves.
