Living in Increase (Part 2) - Increase in LoveSample

Week 2: Love God

Love and Obedience

In John 14:15, Jesus says to His disciples, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” When we approach God through religion and rules, it’s easy to read this verse as: “If you truly love God, then you will prove it to Him by doing what He says.” However, if we approach God through life and relationship, we read this verse as: “If you truly love God, you’ll naturally do what is right from the overflow of your love for Him.”

God indeed desires us to love Him and His people, as we read in Matthew 22:37-40. Jesus even says that “the entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40)! Therefore, if we love God and desire to build a relationship with Him, we will automatically do what He asks. Loving God and loving people are the two most important things we will ever do. If we can’t love well, we can’t accomplish anything!

God, in His grace, has set boundaries and limits for us humans. There is a difference between right and wrong, and the Bible is our source of truth. However, instead of keeping track of thousands of rules to follow to earn God’s love, why not just receive the love He has for you, which will help you love God and others? When you approach God through the lens of relationship and seek to increase in love for Him, you will welcome the teaching, correction, rebuke, and training in righteousness that God’s Word offers (2 Timothy 3:16). When we love God, we will obey His commands out of delight, not duty!

Emily N. Green

Action Step: Set a reminder on your phone or write yourself a note as a reminder to love God and love people. Put it somewhere you can see often!