Do You Love HIM?

Many say they have a love for God, but their love is only pleasure in God as the giver of good gifts and pleasant circumstances. This type of love is really a love of self because God is not the supreme object of the appreciation. It is merely a love for God as a provider, a Santa Claus; it is not a biblical love.-John Hannah

I came across this quote the other day and couldn't help but think, think about the rich Truth found in it. Love for God is something that many say they possess; I hear it every where and I see it everywhere, and yet is it the reality? Do all the people who say they LOVE God really love Him? What does it even mean to love God? The Bible has a lot to say on this, and yet it is much more simple than most would think. How do you know if you really LOVE God? Look at what Jesus himself says in John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command." If you love Him, it will show through your obedience to His commands.

I believe the problem starts with our view of God. If your view of God is incorrect, you will not understand what it means to truly love Him. If I view God as a big genie in the sky, or my spiritual santa claus, I will love Him only when my "wishes are his command" or when its Christmas in my life. But the moment that a circumstance comes along that brings challenge, conflict, hardship, pain or suffering, my love for Him will fade; it will fade because my love has been based solely on what He does for me. But is this who God is? Is God our grandpa in the sky? No where in Scripture will you find anything about God giving you everything your heart desires or all your wants or answering all your prayers (the way YOU want) or making all your dreams a reality. What does God promise a believer?

- Forgiveness of Sins
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."

-Eternal Life
John 6:40, "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

-His Love and Mercy
Lamentations 3:22-23, "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

-Our "Needs" (provision)
Matthew 6:8 "...for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

And of course much more. But this is the start, this is where we can gain perspective about who our God is and what He promises the believer. If our idea of God is that He is here for our needs, to meet our needs and wants, we have it mixed up. Instead we are here FOR HIM, to GLORIFY HIM, to HONOR HIM, to make HIM famous!

Your love for Him starts with your knowledge of who He is, not what He does. Although the cross, your sanctification, your provision, your blessings...all of these will cause you to love Him even more, your love doesn't start there. You love Him because He first loved you, because of who He is, HE IS ALMIGHTY AND HOLY AND PERFECT GOD! And then the cross, the cross compels you to love Him because you couldn't love Him without that work. And then everything else follows, every good and perfect gift should cause you to love Him more.

Now, the biblical love Jesus is talking about is only possible in the life of a true believer. Someone who has been regenerated, redeemed, and changed from the inside out will be able to obey His commands out of love. Our love for Him is what drives that obedience. If you say you LOVE GOD, the logical question should be...do you obey Him? If your answer is no, then you must ask yourself why not. Do you desire to obey Him? To please Him? Your love should compel you to seek His glory in all you do. Do you really love Him? Is your love based on who He is or what He gives you? Is your view of our God correct?

May your love for God truly be that...A LOVE FOR GOD!