In our morally relativistic age, ‘love’ can mean a lot of things. Unrealistic fairy-tale type romances. Brief ‘whirlwind’ relationships. Even sexual immorality and perversity disguise themselves under the banner of love. Plastered on T-shirts, coffee mugs, bumper stickers, and bathroom stalls, love seems to be the byword of a generation bent on justifying carnality, licentiousness, and half-hearted commitments.
Worldly love is an affair of the emotions—emotions which are fickle and subject to change. The Bible teaches us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jer. 17:9). And yet the world teaches us to ‘follow our hearts’. We’re taught to chase the feeling, and when the feeling is gone, to move on to something better.
This type of love proves itself unstable and short-lived. Its rush of passion and attraction can be very strong at first, but no feeling can be counted on to last in its full intensity, or even to endure at all. Godly love, on the other hand, contrasts sharply against what the world is familiar with. It has a firm foundation. It has substance, depth. Godly love is an affair of the will.
After presenting God’s laws to the Israelites, Moses commands them: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deut. 6:5). It is important to note that feelings cannot be commanded; they spring up and die off on impulse. But you can command an action.
Scripture says, “…let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 Jn. 3:18, emphasis added). God does not want mere lip service or feel-good emotions from His people; He desires true love, love that endures, love that does. So what does it look like to love God? How can we recognize and pursue the characteristics of godly love in our own lives?
Moses’ instructions to the Israelites give us our first clue: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them…Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deut. 6:6–9).
Reading God’s Word is a great place to start, but as His followers we are also called to observe it, teach it to others, speak about it, remember it and use it. The Psalmist says, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long… How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps. 119:97, 103). Godly love cherishes God’s Word and seeks to live by it.
Moses goes on to warn Israel not to forget the Lord after they enter and experience the abundance of the Promised Land: “…then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Deut. 6:11–12). The land God brought them to was full of good things (v. 10–11), and Moses knew the hidden dangers of success and prosperity.
Acknowledging that all good things come from God is an effective deterrent to pride and self-reliance. Even Jesus gave thanks for God’s provision (Jn. 6:11) and was dependent on His Father: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can only do what He sees His Father doing…” (Jn. 5:19). Godly love depends on God and expresses gratitude for His blessings.
Nevertheless, simply remembering God was not enough. Moses made sure the people understood the seriousness of their relationship with the Lord and exhorted them to act accordingly. “Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His name. Do not follow other gods…for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God…” (Deut. 6:13–15, emphasis added).
If we claim to love God, we should honor Him as priority number one in our lives. Our love ought to be evident through humble service, after the example Christ set for us: “Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love…He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (Jn. 13:1, 5). Godly love honors God and serves Him humbly and wholeheartedly.
Moses commands the people not to test the Lord as they did at Massah, also called Meribah (Deut. 6:16). They had quarreled with Moses saying, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” (Num. 20:5). Their unbelief and bad attitude led them to gather against Moses and Aaron, God’s chosen leaders.
We must not be tempted to doubt the character of God—“…in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 Jn. 1:5). We must also be careful not to reject His provision; God knows what is best for us and He promises to meet all our needs “according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19)! Godly love trusts God and relies on His love and care.
Like an aging father passing on wisdom to his children because he knows his time is near, Moses once again tells the Israelites to be sure to keep the commands God has given them (Deut. 6:17). “Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you…” (v. 18, emphasis added). Moses understood the reason behind God’s laws, and presented the choice to the Israelites as clearly as he could.
Most of the time, understanding comes as we obey, not before. If we respond in faith that God’s commands are designed with our best in mind, we will discover the joy and victory of living in line with His will! “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world” (1 Jn. 5:3–4). Godly love obeys God and understands the purpose of His commands.
The perpetuation of God’s word ran parallel to the nation’s relationship with Him—if they forgot God’s laws, they would soon forget Him! Moses charged his countrymen to pass along these words, their meaning, and the account of all the Lord had done for them to their children (Deut. 6:20–23). In this way they would prosper and be kept alive; obedience would be their righteousness (v. 24–25).
Like the Israelites, we can tell others about God’s hand in our circumstances, His transformational work in our hearts, His blessing in our lives. Unlike the Israelites, we do not rely on the old covenant where obedience was the source of righteousness and blessing. Under the new covenant, Christ is our righteousness and the blessing we receive comes from our standing in Him!
“For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son…” (Rom. 8:3). For those who believe in Him, Jesus offers salvation: His sacrifice secured our position before God and our promise of eternal life! “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” (1Jn. 3:1). Godly love remembers God’s faithful deliverance and turns to Jesus for salvation.
John, often referred to as the ‘apostle of love’, wrote these words: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 Jn. 4:7–8, emphasis added). The kind of love John speaks about is not stagnant! It is a passionate pursuit that effects not only our lives, but the lives of those around us. Godly love grows in knowledge of God and flows outward to others.
By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, God spoke these words through the prophet Hosea: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hos. 6:6, ESV). What an amazing God we have who desires not sacrifice, not empty religion, but love! Let us endeavor to grow in godly love, loving God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength!
Lord, show us how to love like You do! Help us to abide in godly love rather than worldly love. As we seek to know You, may our love for You grow and flow into the lives of others. Let ours be a love rooted in Your Word, a love that is humble, thankful, and dependent. Let it be a love that serves, trusts, and obeys. And may we always know and rely on the love You have for us—the love shown in Your Son, Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for us! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection Questions
2. How are you depending on God today?
3. We grow in our knowledge of God by spending time with Him—in His Word, in prayer, and in community with the body of Christ, His church. In which of these areas does your relationship with God flourish? Which present an opportunity for growth?