Obeying God is Loving God

Dear friend,

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked [Jesus] a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:35-38).

Here is the greatest instruction ever given on law keeping. Obeying God is first and foremost about loving Him! And the only proper way to love Him is to believe in the good news of Christ! If you do not have Christ, your love and obedience can never be acceptable to God. However, if you do have Jesus as the One who rescues you from your sin and shame, then the good works of your heart, soul, and mind will be pleasing in His sight.

Jesus also reminds us that obeying God includes love for others. Our love for the Lord (which is sealed in Christ) is the motivating power behind our love for people in the world. The loved, forgiven, justified, adopted state of being in Christ Jesus, prompts us to relate to others with love, forgiveness, patience, and a desire for strong, positive relationships.

Want more specifics? God gives them in the 10 Commandments (Ex. 20; Dt. 5).

The Christian loves God when he or she: has no other gods; has no idols; does not misuse God’s name; and remembers the Sabbath day in worship.

The Christian loves others when he or she: honors parents; does not murder; does not commit adultery; does not steal; does not lie; and does not covet what others have.

Let us obey the law because we love our Savior Jesus!

Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder