Do You Love God?

“The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.” -John 14:21

This is a great verse that shows our love for God through our obedience to God’s Word (Bible)! If we are disobedient (to God’s Word) it reveals our failure to love God!” ~ Dan Currie

My brother shared this verse the other day and as I read it, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the crucial connection between loving God and obeying His commands.

*Disclaimer - None of this is assuming or implying works-based salvation or that we need to work to somehow earn God’s love.

We cannot claim to love Jesus and disregard what His Word says, or ignore the way it tells us to live. If we do, there is inconsistency and hypocrisy present - a disconnection between what we say and we do.

Jesus said in John 14:24, “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” When we disregard God’s Word and the instructions that are in it, and live the way we want, it shows a lack of love of Jesus. It shows we love ourselves and our lifestyle more than we love Jesus and more than we fear (respect/honor/revere) God.

Jesus said, in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”.  So part of proving we love Jesus is obeying what He has laid out for us in Scripture (Old Testament + New Testament).

Jesus said in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one” So we can’t disconnect the Godhead of the Old Testament with the Messiah of the New Testament. If we want a better picture of and understanding of who Jesus is then we need to look as what/who Scripture (both OT and NT) says He is rather than who we think He is based on our thoughts or feelings

            “God is not who you think He is…He is who/what He says He is!” ~ Unknown

            As we start obeying Scripture, Jesus says, He will reveal Himself to us. As we give ourselves to the study and obeying of God’s Word, Jesus says, “I will love him and reveal myself to him” (John 14:21b).

            Jesus says if we keep His commands then He will “love us” …this is not to say that Jesus only starts to love us when we start to love, and obey Him. Our love and obedience to Him should spring from His love for us; which is a love that has been “from everlasting to everlasting”. This means there is a clearer discovery and understanding of His love for us.

            Jesus says as we prove our love, through obedience to His Word, He will reveal Himself to us. The more we fall in love with, get to know, and obey God’s Word, the more the Holy Spirit will reveal the heart and mind of Jesus to us.

            This revelation is not in a physical sense, like He revealed Himself to His disciples after His resurrection; but in a spiritual way. He makes Himself known to us; through His commands (His wise instructions and direction) and through gracing us with His presence. As this happens, we see His beauty, His fullness, His grace, His righteousness, His power, and His glory…and we are changed.

            If you really love God, prove that love by knowing and keeping His commands.