"We love Him because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19
One of the most famous commands in the Bible is first found in the Old Testament, and reiterated again in the New: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deut. 6:5, Mt. 22:37). But the children of Israel had a problem with this--and it seems modern times haven't much changed our inclination to fall away. Loving God just doesn't come naturally to us.
Today's verse reminds us of this fact by telling us where our love for God does come from: not from anything we could manufacture within ourselves, but from the immense love that He first extended to us. God's eternal, reliable, unconditional love is more than we can comprehend this side of Heaven. As recipients of such a love, Christians have the joyful duty to love Him in return. What does one who loves God look like?
The Bible tells us of some qualities of those who love God. One is found in Psalm 97:10: "O you who love the Lord, hate evil!" It might seem odd to pair love and hate in the same sentence, but if you think about it, it makes sense. God IS love, but He is also holy and has a holy hatred of evil. Isaiah 61:8 says, in part, "For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong..." If you truly love someone or something, you will have a hatred for anything that opposes that person or thing; so if we love God, we should absolutely hate the very thing that sets itself up in opposition to Him.
Also, if we love God, we will desire to obey Him. Jesus told His disciples, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Though we all fail at times, the pattern of our lives should be one of increasing obedience to our Lord.
When we love God with all our heart, soul, and might, the rewards He offers cause our actions to pale in comparison. He promises to keep covenant with us (Deut. 7:9), preserve us (Psalm 145:20), and to work out all circumstances for our good (Romans 8:28). But to me, the most wonderful promise of God for those who love Him is that He knows us. I Corinthians 8:3 makes it crystal clear: “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” Not “might be known,” or even "shall be known.” Thank God that, though we certainly will have a more intimate relationship with Christ in heaven, we don’t have to wait: God intimately knows us now!! It is such a comfort to me in my darkest, most fearful moments, that God knows me—knows exactly what I need and when I need it. He knows me better than I know myself.
To sum up: Our love for God begins and ends with Him. So the love that He originated in us, He also chooses to reward us for! For us, our Savior’s unspeakably generous nature should lead us to love Him all the more.
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture used in "Joy in the Morning" is taken from the English Standard Version.
