Articles
Do We Really Love God?
DO WE REALLY LOVE GOD?
The Bible mentions many ways in which we are to love God. However, there is one aspect of our love that is often overlooked or ignored. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Paul writes:
"But as it is written:
'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."
Notice that God "has prepared" some things "for those who love Him." That should perk the interest of all who claim to love God! What are those "things"? Has He prepared salvation "for those who love Him"? Certainly! Has He prepared heaven "for those who love Him"? Absolutely!
But that's not the point Paul is making in this passage. "The things which God has prepared for those who love Him" in this passage are plainly told in verse 10: "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit." Paul is talking about God's revelation to man; he's talking about the book we call the "Bible." God, through the Holy Spirit, guided the apostles into "all truth" (Jn. 16:13). They wrote it down so that when we read, we "may understand" with the very same level of knowledge they received (Eph 3:1-5). Imagine that! If we will but read and study God's Word (with the right attitude of mind! Lk. 8:11; Acts 17:11), we can have the very same level of knowledge as the great apostles!
When I survey the so-called Christian world today, I see so many folks claiming to be Christians really not fully following the teachings of God's Word, the Bible. Oh, they often proclaim they do. They proclaim loudly "I love God!" Yet, they still drink alcohol, cheat on their taxes, gossip, watch pornography, divorce and remarry indiscriminately, fail to assemble to worship on the Lord's Day, complain, murmur, etc., etc.
How about you and me? Do we really "love God"? We can only legitimately make that claim if we use His Word as our only guide and light in life (Psa. 119:105; Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11). Only if we, with all honesty and truthfulness, can say that when it comes to the Bible, we have the exact attitude of the prophet Samuel: "Speak; for thy servant heareth." (1 Sam. 3:10).
Recall what Jesus told the apostles about making disciples? He told the apostles to instruct disciples "to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:20). How's our observing of "all things" that Jesus has commanded? Do you and I really hear and obey God's Word? Or, do we simply "talk the talk" and not "walk the walk"? Don't forget: "God has prepared [His Word] for those who love Him."! Do you and I really "love Him"? Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (Jn. 14:15)
