ONLY GOD'S CHILDREN CAN LOVE GOD

Only those who are children of God can love God because those who are children of God have the Spirit of God in them, which makes them alive spiritually and enables them to love God. Loving God can only come from a changed heart that is a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in them. Many people want to love God with their own efforts. They will do all kinds of rituals to show their love for God; however, the Bible clearly states that we can only love God by becoming His Children. Those who do not genuinely believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior cannot be children of God; therefore, they cannot love God because they do not have the Spirit of God in them. Romans 8:15-16 says, "So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children." Our love for God starts with our right relationship with Him. 

The first step to love God is to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We must surrender our hearts and life to Jesus and make Him our Lord. Once we genuinely believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become His children (John 1:12). The Holy Spirit will come into our hearts and start changing our hearts to love and obey God. The Spirit of God will give us the desire to know more about God through His Word, and He will teach us how to pray according to His Word. As we get to know God through His Word and the Holy Spirit works in our lives, we will grow in our love for God. Our love for God is a result of our deep understanding of His great love for us. We cannot love God with our own efforts, strength, and wisdom because loving Him is a result of our relationship with Him. We simply walk with God daily by trusting Him in every area of our lives, reading His Word, praying daily, and obeying Him, and our love for Him will grow. 

God commanded us to love Him, but we cannot love God with our own efforts, strengths, and wisdom. We can only love God through our relationship with Him. As we allow the Spirit of God to change our hearts, we will grow in loving our God. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What must a person have to love God? Am I in the right relationship with God? What happens when I am in the right relationship with God? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me today that my love for you is a result of my relationship with you. Thank you for saving me and adopting me as your child through faith in my Lord Jesus. Please continue to change my heart that I may love you more. Please give me a hunger to read your Word and a deep desire to pray. Please help me to trust you and obey you in every area of my life. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.