Love is Obedience ...
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 John 5:3)
The disciple John is known as that disciple who had a special love for
Jesus and vice versa. He was identified as that disciple "whom Jesus
loved" (John 20:2).
His writings give a clear picture of the love that God has for us, as
well as the kind of love we should have in response to Him. John does
not identify this type of love as an emotional or sentimental feeling.
It is more than affection; it is total obedience to Him, as noted in
the following sampling of verses. "If ye love me, keep my commandments"
(John 14:15). "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him" (1 John 2:5). "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments" (2 John 6).
Such a view of love may come as a surprise to some, but it reflects
total submission to His kingship. This is the proof of our love for God
as seen in our text and elsewhere. The other side of love
is love toward men, and John has much to say of this matter as well.
"And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his
brother also" (1 John 4:21). He elsewhere writes "that we love one another" (2 John 5); and "these things I command you, that ye love one another" (John 15:17).
Paul even picks up the theme: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:9-10).
In summary, love to man is a principle that works no ill towards one's
neighbor, but, in contrast, seeks his greater good. Christ's human
half-brother calle d it "the royal law" (James 2:8).
Love to God yields obedience to all His commandments. Both kinds of
love are mandated by God. "On these two commandments hang all the law
and the prophets" (Matthew 22:40).




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