One of the many beautiful things about making new disciples Is consistently revisiting the basics. The foundations of our faith. What is the first and greatest command? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. That’s the first part. That’s where all starts.
Recently, a new disciple asked, “What does it mean to love God? What does it look like to love God? How do you love God?”
We love God because He first loved us. He is the creator of all things, the Redeemer. He gave us life. Our savior. He is our Provider, Friend, Father, Shepard and so many other things.
Those that call themselves children of God should foremost love the Lord their God. That should be a sign that they are children of God, that they love their Father. Loving Him can be shown by spending time with Him. Just as we spend time with people that we love, we should too, spend time with Him. We can show love by trusting in Him. Loving others, as He has loved us, shows that we love Him. Obedience to Him exemplifies love. Seeking Him in all our ways demonstrates our love.
Paul warned the Ephesus church to return to their first love in Revelation 2. It’s so easy to start going through the motions without the proper foundation of love. It’s easy to get swept up and in the doing, but the foundation of all of that doing, reaching, going, sending, building, planting, and growing should be LOVING. Loving God. If those good things are done without the intentions of loving God and people, then they are dead works. Worth nothing. Everything we do is to be done with love.
But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
1 Corinthians 8:3