Authentic Love for God

What does it mean to love God? There are some distinguishing marks of someone who truly loves God.

First, a person who loves God will want to be with Him. When you are in love with someone, you like to be with him or her. And when you are walking with God, you will want to be with God.

Second, a person who loves God will love the things that He loves. We know what God loves by what He has declared in His Word. If you love God, then you will love the Word of God. You will want to read the Bible. You also will love lost people, because you will love what (and whom) God loves.

Third, a person who loves God will in turn hate what God hates. God hates sin, and we should do the same. The psalmist tells us, "You who love the Lord, hate evil!" (Psalm 97:10). The problem is that sometimes we are fascinated by evil. Don’t flirt with evil; run from it.

Fourth, a person who loves God will love other Christians. We read in 1 John 3:14, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death." You cannot love God and hate your brother.

Fifth, a person who loves God will long for His return. The apostle Paul looked forward to Christ’s return. He wrote, "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).

Do you love God? This is what loving Him really means and what it looks like.