TOPIC: LOVE FOR GOD
God, who is the embodiment of love, desires love from the very beings He created.
Just as humans long to be loved, so does God, our maker.
This requirement for worship was emphasized by Jesus during His earthly mission. It’s what the father expects – without love, there is no true worship.
Deut 6:5-6(KJV)5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deut 10:12(KJV)12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
Love God more than anything else.
Matt 22:37-38(KJV)37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38 This is the first and great commandment.
Jesus would never compromise on the command to Love God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Luke 14:26-27(KJV)26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Love for God played a crucial role in the success of David’s life and that of the patriarches and prophets.
Ps 42:1-3(NKJV)As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”
Take a moment – do you love God?
Ps 18:1(KJV) I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
Ps 73:25-26 (NLT)25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Getting to love the reality of God’s personality is very important
Ps 16:2(MSG)2 I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense.
Love for God magnetizes love of God.
And Solomon loved the Lord – 1 Kings 3:3-13(KJV)3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
What happens when you love God first and make him your priority?
Matt 6:33(kJV) “… seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Rom 8:28(KJV)28 … we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1 Peter 1:8-12(NLT) 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. 12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
When you love God, He is willing to give you whatever you need.
Deut 7:9-11(TLB)9 “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is the faithful God who for a thousand generations keeps his promises and constantly loves those who love him and who obey his commands. 10 But those who hate him shall be punished publicly and destroyed. He will deal with them personally.
True love for God must be demonstrated practically. 1 John 5:3-4(NLT)3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
Loving God comes with a demand
Gal 2:20(KJV)20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Love is the greatest instrument for evangelism. If you truly love Him, He will become the center of your testimony, and no one will be able to resist it.
Mark 5:19-20(KJV)19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Your love for others is a natural overflow of your love for God.
John 15:9-17(KJV)9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
God’s love for us stirs and inspires our love for Him .
1 John 4:8(KJV) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
V19-21(KJV)19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
It is a prayer – 2 Thess 3:5(KJV)5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.