Intelligent Worship brings us into the presence of God through Loving God. Part 10.
Mark 12:28-30
Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment."
Joshua 22:5
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave (cling, stick like glue) unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
1 John 4:21
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
LOVE: agapao (pronounced ag-ap-ah'-o) which means 'to love', 'to prefer'
For us who believe it means we choose to live through Christ, we prefer to live in Him and allow Him to live through us (1 John 4:9-10).
While most of us know John 3:16, few remember to read the next few verses, as well.
John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
God loves us so much He sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty once and for all for all sinners everywhere. That's how much God loves us. And He wants us to love Him and each other with this same love: unconditional, no strings attached, all-encompassing love. That kind of love is Agape: divine love. Loving God and Loving each other through the power of God. See? It's not a love that we can accomplish under our own power: it's only available through Christ. It's an Active Love, an Obedient Love.
We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19.
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
How do we Love God?
By loving each other with His love.
It would be very beneficial to us to read and re-read 1 John 4. And to study it out.
