A Pharisee asked Jesus about the great commandment in the law and Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38) It's one thing to know that God loves you, but it's another for you to love Him in return. The truth is; "we love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19) Our love for God is simply a response or reaction to, or an overflow of His love for us. Nevertheless, loving God in return is a major aspect of our relationship with God wherein we must grow.  

Naturally, the more you know that someone loves you, the more you love them back. Likewise, the more you know of God's love for you, the more your heart should respond with more love for Him. And since the word of God is the agent through which we learn of His love for us, it follows that the more of God's love is revealed to us through His word, the more we fall in love with Him.

How do you know if your love for God is growing? It's simple. It's the same way you know for certain that you're falling in love with somebody. It is when you realise you want to know them more and spend more time with them more than other people. When you start to love what they love and hate what they hate. When you start to share more of their thoughts, feelings, opinions, values and pains, even when they originally differed from yours. Consequently, you find yourself increasingly making sacrifices to accommodate them more in your life. Growing in love with God is no different. 

In fact the Lord, through certain scriptures helps us pin down precisely the signs of falling in love with Him. Twice in John chapter 14, He said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commands". Increasingly obeying the commandments of God from a sincere heart is an expression of our love for God. Again, 1 John 2:3-5, says, "And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.  But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did."

Beloved, in view of all of the above, it's time to ask yourself honestly, 'Am I growing in my love for God?' and look for the vital signs in your life. The truth is, there's always room for more growth when it comes to loving the Lord. Sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to Help you make the necessary sacrifices in order to accommodate more of God - more of His word in your heart. His grace is sufficient for you.

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