TOO LOVE IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY

SCRIPTURE OF INTEREST

[Psa 31:23 NKJV] Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! [For] the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person.

MY COMMENTARY

God’s Program of Love – Part Three

 In part two of my commentary I shared with you a command that Jesus gives in Mark 12:30, 31. This command is a responsibility that God instructs us concerning our love for God. Now, this does not and should not be practiced as the letter of the law but rather practiced from the heart. Otherwise, this is only a practice which glorifies self-righteousness.

To love God is a challenge for all of us. This really is a relationship which God encourages us to enter into and which has benefits attached to it. Of course this involves a heart relationship. Jesus said that true worship comes from the heart in [John 4:24 KJV]. “God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship [Him] in spirit and in truth.”

WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US

It was we who found God and decided to love Him. Is that true? No it is not. It is true that man searches for purpose and a reason for being here so he turns to things or religion to fill the void that is in his heart. But it was God who loved us while we were still in sin and we respond to His love as a result. [1Jo 4:19 KJV] “We love Him, because He first loved us.” Scripture points out further [Rom 5:8 KJV] “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Because of God’s incredible love for us Jesus was willing to suffer to pay the debt that we owed. And as a result He made a way for us to experience the benefits of the cross.

But there is more. His love continues to work in our behalf even now. “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying, yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness I have drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV). God said to Jeremiah the prophet that His love is always at work. His love draws us unto Himself for He wants to not only have an intimate relationship with us, but to also show us that there is a better way to live.

It is so amazing where God’s Word says that we need to count it all joy when we are going through problems because it can work for our good. [Rom 5:3-5 KJV] “And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience (character); and experience (character), hope: and hope maketh not ashamed (or, does not disappoint); because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” When we receive Christ into our lives something incredible takes place which then gives us the opportunity to develop patience, character and hope. Especially hope, which can be strengthened to the point where it does not disappoint. And how is this possible you ask? Well, look at verse 5 “and hope maketh not ashamed (or, does not disappoint); because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” God has poured His love into us by His Holy Spirit which is given to us to help with our journey in life. Just think, God’s love abiding in us. Praise God.

Realizing this should provoke us to love God more than ever. The creator of the universe downloading His love into us by His Spirit is an amazing truth that deserves our utmost attention. Let’s look at this a little further. What has taken place tells me something that we need to see. When we accept Christ as Saviour we actually enter into union with Him. This reminds me of what happened when I got married. I entered into union with my wife when vows were exchanged and then the marriage was consummated. This union was made between two people who love each other. The same is true with our relationship union with our God. He loves me and I love Him.

LOVING GOD IS A CHOICE

God chose to love you and me. He chose to rescue you and me by sending His Son to die for us. He chose to save us when we accept Him into lives by faith. He chose never to leave us nor forsake us and He chose to pour His love into us through the Holy Spirit. What a deal! Now He is asking us to make that choice to love Him in this union. [Mar 12:30 KJV] 30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment.”

When we choose to love God we are taking the responsibility of giving ourselves over to His Lordship. This means surrender. Doing this means we are willing to trust Him in our everyday lives in everything.

TO LOVE GOD IS TO PUT HIM FIRST

The cross undoubtedly tells us that God put you and me first before anything else. Jesus sacrificial death was all about laying down His life for us. We were His absolute priority. [Heb 12:2 KJV] “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We were His joy even in His suffering. For He knew what that would mean for everyone that would believe on Him.

Now He is asking us to put Him first before everything else. So when we consider Mark 12:30 He is asking us to lay down our lives for Him. [Mat 6:33 KJV] “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Now are we going to get it all in one swoop? No, we won’t. But, when we begin to pursue loving God through prayer, studying His Word, worship and doing His Word you will begin to see changes occurring in your life. There will be a greater level of understanding as to who He is and our love for Him will grow deeper. In this relationship His plans will unfold to you and me for the present and for all eternity. We will see things through His eyes and we will get to know His heart. Because of growth in loving Him our heart becomes sensitive to what breaks His heart and where we fail which in turn causes us to repent. It simply means we want to please our Master and do what He asks of us. This kind of relationship leads us to loving others as well.

Hopefully, you understand what I am trying to communicate to us. God loves you and He has your best interest at heart and He wants you to love Him in this union. So love God and choose to learn to love Him.