Loving God First

Loving God is the foundation of the Christian life. Before we can truly love Him, we must first know Him, and that knowledge begins in His Word. It is difficult to love someone we do not know. The more we learn of God’s holiness, mercy, faithfulness, and grace, the more our hearts are drawn toward Him. His Word is not merely a book of information—it is His revelation of Himself. As we read Scripture, we are not just learning facts; we are meeting the Author. To know Him is to love Him.

To love God means to worship Him and place Him above all else. Jesus declared that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is not a divided affection where God gets a small corner of our lives while the world takes the rest. It is wholehearted devotion. God is not asking to be part of our lives—He is to be the center of it. When we truly love Him, other loves fall into their proper place. The things of this world lose their grip because our hearts have found something greater. Like the psalmist, we can say, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”

Loving God also means desiring Him. Just as a thirsty deer longs for water, the believer longs for the presence of God. There is a hunger for righteousness, a thirst for truth, and a longing for fellowship with Him. Mary of Bethany pictured this beautifully when she sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to His words. Love listens. Love desires closeness. Love treasures the voice of the beloved. When we love God, His Word becomes sweeter than honey and more precious than gold. We do not approach the Bible as duty alone, but as delight.

Imagine a man receiving a letter from the one he loves. He does not toss it aside or read it carelessly. He opens it eagerly, reads every word, and treasures it because it came from someone precious to him. So it should be with the Word of God. Because we love the Author, we love His message. We return to it often, meditate on it deeply, and hide it in our hearts.

Finally, loving God means obeying Him. Jesus said plainly, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Obedience is not cold rule-keeping; it is love in action. When we love someone, we naturally desire to please them. The Christian who truly loves God does not obey out of fear alone, but from joyful devotion. His commandments are not a burden but a blessing. Like David, we can say, “I delight to do thy will, O my God.”