How do I know if I truly love God?
At our core, there's not a sliver of doubt about our profound love and affection for God. We listen to worship songs drenched in tears, heads bowed in prayer with our hands tightly clutched to our chests. And as this seemingly ethereal joy and peace engulf us, our hearts swell with gratitude, ablaze with desire to serve God faithfully.
And yet, whenever people advocate for values and ideologies hostile to Christ's teachings, we are silent. When His name is slandered openly by our unbelieving friends, acquaintances, or strangers, some of us don't speak out.
And though I did not remain silent when an acquaintance made derogatory comments about Jesus, I did smile as I politely asked the person not to speak disparagingly about the Savior.
Why on earth did I smile in response to such demeaning remarks about the God I claim to love, revere, and worship? In hindsight, I feel a sense of remorse for my inappropriate reaction.
As Christians, when we fall short of what is expected of us, we begin to question if we truly love God. When we watch Bible-based movies where believers put their lives on the line for their faith, we wonder if we’re capable of standing up for God if our lives were at stake.
There is always that pervasive feeling of inadequacy when we fail to love God with all our hearts and minds. In an instant, that absolute certainty of our love for God dissipates into a mist of confusion, replaced by doubts, leaving us wondering if we ever truly loved Him.
Questions like:
Is it just the poignant songs of praise offered to God that cause me to burst into tears, or is it a genuine emotional response?
Do I love Him, or do I merely need Him?
Do my allegiance and attachment to Him stem only from my desire to receive His blessings?
We must be mindful that when we profess our love and loyalty to the Lord for the sake of reaping an abundance of blessings, we do it solely out of selfish motives, not because of genuine affection for God.
But we are not perfect, and so our love for Him falters now and then, as written in James 3:2: “We all stumble in many ways.”
Given our frailties, we are bound to fall short of His expectations. Nevertheless, it is our resolve to stay the course and persevere in loving Him that counts, no matter how many times we stumble, however flawed we may be.
Nothing is more precious in God's eyes than seeing an inherently flawed human being strive tirelessly to live a life of obedience despite being fraught with flaws and failings.
As a 14-year-old, during an evangelistic visit, I vividly recall breaking into tears as my friend Bernadette and I shared the gospel with a woman from our town. As I spoke about Christ's salvation, I was so overcome that I could hardly utter a word, prompting my friend to step in and explain the gospel to the bewildered lady seated before me.
And as my friend spoke, my gaze turned upward. The sky was a soothing shade of blue with a few wispy white clouds randomly strewn across it. At that moment, I felt His presence. I felt Him close to me. It is as if I heard Him speak to my heart, saying, “I am pleased.”
Shortly after having such a profound encounter with God, I lapsed into my old ways, pulling my sister's hair during arguments, talking back to my mother, and the like.
Many Christians have felt the same intense emotions and heard God speak to their hearts as I have. But is this the standard by which we gauge our love for God?
Do we measure our love for Him by the number of tears we shed or by the depth of emotions we feel when we are in His presence?
As we mature in our faith, we realize that loving God transcends emotions. It goes beyond the somber tears we shed at His feet. In the end, genuine love manifests itself in action rather than words.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15 [NKJV]
1. We strive to prioritize God's interests above our own.
Does our faith in God take a back seat when we make critical life decisions? Is God the first one we seek advice from before we embark on any course of action?
Then again, we must realize it is not out of selfish motives that God requires us to put Him above ourselves, but rather it is in our best interest to do so.
We can trust what all servants of God before us have proven time and again. There is always a greater purpose at work for our benefit, no matter how we might feel. God always has our utmost interests at heart so that we can rest easy even amid uncertainty.
“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” - Charles Spurgeon
Genuine love compels us to put others above our own interests. We give our all to those we love. As such, we can strive to lead a life that glorifies God even under adverse circumstances—as did those who came before us. It is easier said than done, but when the Spirit of the Lord dwells within us, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.
Mark 12:29-31 says, “Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
2. We spend time with God.
We can learn more about what we value most by probing where our time is mostly spent. Time, it is said, is one of the most precious gifts we can give to those we care about most. Thus, we should never neglect to give God the time and devotion He deserves.
We can talk to Him throughout the day, while we’re tending the garden or while concocting tasty meals in the kitchen.
Nevertheless, it is still necessary to carve out some quiet time with Him, even for a few minutes a day. In silence, let us spend time meditating on God’s words, praying, and worshiping Him by singing hymns of gratitude and praise.
Having time for God is crucial to fostering an intimate and strong relationship with Him.
And when life's setbacks leave you worn out and discouraged, and you feel like you can’t take another step, use all the strength you can muster. Turn your defeat into triumph by singing praises to God for the breakthrough that is sure to come your way.
We can always turn to the Lord in times of need and wait patiently for Him to work on our behalf. It is this absolute dependence on God, both during good and bad times, that will bring us closer to God’s heart.
3. His words resonate with your heart.
When you truly love God, His Spirit fills you with joy and peace, making His words come alive within you.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27 [KJV]
4. The lure of material wealth does not easily entice you.
Nothing is more enticing to man than the pursuit of material wealth. It is human nature to desire earthly riches.
In order to acquire massive wealth, countless men are willing to pay a high price and risk a great deal. Thus, in the pursuit of money, many lives are tragically lost, relationships shattered, and souls deeply ravaged by sin.
Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:23-24
Thus, we can honestly say we love God with all our hearts and minds when our love for Him has transcended our desire for selfish gain.
“Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
5. The desire to defend God's name is triggered when His name is vilified.
If we defend our family members' reputation when it is tarnished, why can't we defend God against skeptics with the same passion?
We are permitted to express holy anger for as long as we will not lay hands, raise our voices, or spew cuss words at those who slander God's name. We must stand our ground without inciting hostility towards brothers and sisters outside the church to avoid alienating them from God.
Recently, I watched a YouTube video showing an increasing trend of prominent personalities insulting God. There has never been a time in history when so many renowned individuals made derogatory remarks about God with such impunity as we are witnessing today.
As Christians, we can tell if we truly love God by how deeply our heart is grieved when people ridicule Him. We have this innate impulse to stand up for Him against those who denigrate His name.
“For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” Psalm 69:9
Building an enduring relationship with God is akin to growing a seed in the garden. It requires water, protection from weeds, and nourishment to thrive.
Quite simply, nurturing our intimacy with God makes our relationship with Him flourish. The more time we spend with God, the more we feel His presence. And as we become immersed in His presence, our love and attachment to Him deepen.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
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