Have you ever thought that you need to love God more? I know I have. And what I’ve tried to do to fix the problem on my own is to try and muster up even more love for God. I’ve thought, “If I only loved God more, I’m sure my life would be different. I would have more victory over temptation. I would grow to be more spiritually mature.” But, I realized that my thinking was backwards.
2 Corinthians 5:14 tells us, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” God’s love is the fuel for our lives to live for God.
Instead of trying to work up more love for God, my first step needs to be realizing how much He loves me. You see, when I fully receive the fullness of God’s love for me, that changes everything.
I love the old song, The Love of God. You can hear the whole song here, but the part I like the most is the third verse that goes like this:
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky
“The Love of God”
One of the most important reasons you were born is to be loved by God! All the other stuff we do, even the things we do for God, is important. But what matters most is our loving relationship with Him.
Here is a quick list of practical ways to know how well you know God’s love:
- Do you sense God’s love for you?
- Do you know that your sins are forgiven?
- Are you grateful to God?
- Do you increasingly hate sin?
- Do you want to please God and live a holy life?
- Do you want to know God more and draw near to Him?
- Do you love hearing about God and the things of God?
Now, if you failed that test, what can you do? Don’t try to work up those feelings. There is only one thing to do: Look to God, see yourself and your sin, and see Jesus as your Savior. Then open your heart to receive His rich, pure, unending, and strong love today!