Loving God is obeying His commands

The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. Deuteronomy 7:7-9

From the text, Moses reminded the people of Israel that He chose them not because of their abilities and meritorious acts but “simply that the Lord loves [them] you.” He also told them that this love was shown when they were rescued from bondage and from “the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Then He urged them to respond back to God by loving Him and obey His commands. Loving God should not be a choice we make when we feel like doing it but to love Him no matter what circumstances we are experiencing. Again, Moses reminded them of God’s command to love Him by being obedient to His commands and not to do so will result to missing out God’s favor. “You must love the Lord your God and always obey his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands. Keep in mind that I am not talking now to your children, who have never experienced the discipline of the Lord your God or seen his greatness and his strong hand and powerful arm” (Deuteronomy 11:1-2). This is also what Paul declared when he said that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28). God demands that He should be supreme over our lives if we want to enjoy His faithfulness and His unfailing love. He loved us when He gave His Son to die for our sin. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The Spirit of God working within us will always prompt us to love God by loving others. “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions” (1 John 3:18). “And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers” (1 John 4:20).

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com