Loving God | thebereancall.org

Loving God

"Hear, O Israel:...thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(Deuteronomy:6:4,5)

"If a man love me, he will keep my words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John:14:23)

Both the Ten Commandments given to Israel and the moral law that God has written in every conscience (Rom:2:14-15) require each of us to love God with our entire being. Such a demand is laid upon us not because God needs our love, for He is infinite and lacks nothing. Nor is it because God is self-centered or proud and thus demands that we love Him above all else. He commands us to love Him with our whole heart because nothing else could save us from our incorrigible enemy, Self.

This first and greatest commandment is given for our own good. God loves each of us so much that He wants to give us the greatest possible blessing: Himself. He does not, however, force Himself upon anyone, for that would not be love. We must genuinely and earnestly desire Him. "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jer:29:13) is the promise of God, who otherwise hides Himself (Isa:45:15). And again, "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb:11:6). —Dave Hunt, TBC "Knowing and Loving God," November 1993

Key Scripture verses related to "Loving God"

Old Testament:

  • Exodus:20:6
  • Deuteronomy:7:9; Deu:10:12; Deu:11:1; Deu:13:3; Deu:30:20
  • Joshua:22:5
  • Psalm:31:23; Ps:97:10; Ps:145:20
  • Proverbs:8:17, Prov:8:21

New Testament:

  • Matthew:22:37
  • Mark:12:30
  • Luke:10:27
  • Romans:8:28
  • 1 Corinthians:2:9; 1 Cor:8:3
  • 2 Corinthians:2:8
  • 2 Timothy:4:8
  • Hebrews:6:10
  • James:2:5
  • 1 Peter:1:8
  • 1 John:4:18-21