"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." -- Matt. 22:37
A failure here involves failure everywhere. Who is pleased with professions of
love when convinced that the affection is wanting? So Christ assures us that
acts of devotion are unutterably loathsome unless they spring from love.
"So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." -- Rev. 3:16
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." -- I John 5:3
"O how I love thy Law! it is my meditation all the day." -- Ps. 119:97
And again,
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways." -- Ps. 119:11, 14, 15.
This is the language of one who loves God. He studies the Bible -- not as a
literary critic, but with a sincere desire to know the will of God concerning
him. There was never a saint who did not love the word of God. The knowledge
that a holy person desires above all other, is a knowledge of God's will. So
he studies the sacred writings -- not to establish a doctrine or to prove a
disputed point; but to really find out what God requires of him. He would not
pervert it, nor make it bend to his convenience or his prejudices. But let one
lose the love of God out of his heart, and the relish for the Bible is g one.
It is generally neglected. If read, as it may be when the light becomes
darkness, it is that its meaning may be perverted so as to form an excuse for
an unholy life. There are many now, as in the Apostle's day, "who handle the
word of God deceitfully."
A holy person has his ear open to the voice
of God in the soul. There is a still, small voice, that one who loves God does
not fail to hear. He who formed the ear can speak to the ear. In many things
respecting which the word of God is silent, or speaks only in general terms, we
need specific directions by the Holy Spirit.
"As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God." -- Rom. 8:14
If we love God, we delight to hear Him speak to us. Even if reproof is given,
we rejoice to hear it. We are glad to listen even to the warnings that our
Heavenly Father gives. But his voice of approbation compensates a thousand
times for any hardships we may have undergone, or any sacrifices we may have
made. In whatever way God speaks, or whatever may be the import of His
message, He always finds in those who love Him attentive listeners. They are
so thankful for the condescension showed that they listen with the utmost
reverence and attention. In their hearts they say, "Speak, Lord, for thy
servant heareth."
The truly devout also take delight in
ascertaining the will of God as shown in the physical laws by which our bodies
and other material substances are governed. A lover of God is likely to be a
lover of nature.
If we love God we have a high relish for that
preaching and that reading which most plainly discloses, and most strongly
enforces the will of God. We try those who say they are apostles. It was to
embodied spirits, -- to preachers and teachers of the Gospel -- that the
Apostle refers when he says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God:" for he assigns as a reason,
"because many false prophets are gone out into the world." -- I John 4:1
We shall hear and support preachers -- not because they are talented or
eloquent -- but because they speak the word of God faithfully. This will be to
us of prime importance. No amount of polished oratory will be accepted as a
substitute for fidelity to God. A holy person cannot give encouragement to
compromisers and trimmers. He cannot bid them God-speed who bring another
Gospel. He does not help false prophets -- no matter though they may belong to
his own denomination -- by giving them his presence and his money. This,
again, will make trouble. But holiness, in a sinful world, has always been a
troublesome thing. It is so because it is holiness.
Again, if we love God we shall manifest it
by unquestioning obedience to all His commands. There can be no real love to
God without the spirit of obedience. Our Saviour makes obedience the test of
love.
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him." -- John 14:21
This is clear and conclusive. Professions of love to God, when attended by
manifest disobedience to His commands, show how easy it is to be deceived.
Christ cannot be mistaken; but the most intelligent among us may be very much
out of the way, especially in the opinion which we entertain of our own state
of grace. We are safe only as we measure ourselves by the standard which God
gives. And He repeatedly gives obedience as the test of love.
We must have respect to all of His commands.
It will not do for us to make choice of those which it is fashionable to obey,
and disregard those that are commonly disregarded. Such a course would prove
that we are the slaves of fashion, instead of being the servants of God. This
was what brought upon the Pharisees the severest denunciations the Saviour ever
uttered.
Finally, he who loves God has a spirit of
devotion. He loves the worship of God, secret, social and, public. The saints
have always been a praying people. They talk a great deal to God. If they
cannot use the enticing words of man's wisdom, they can plead before the throne
with "groanings that cannot be uttered," and their prayers avail. They know
that they have the things they ask for. They love the mercy-seat. Those who
have been mighty on earth for God, were mighty in prayer. David was a valiant
warrior; but his fiercest battles were fought out in his closet. Elijah, was
too strong for his king, had power over the elements, and openly conquered
death, because he prevailed in prayer.
Prayer answered turns to praise. -- Hence one
who loves God delights in His praises. With the Psalmist he says,
"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." -- Ps. 34:1
See how full the Psalms are of the praises of God. In the New Testament we are
commanded to "rejoice in the Lord always." Now if we love God, we shall delight
to do this. We would as soon think of hiring others to eat our necessary food
for us, as to hire them to praise God for us while our own tongues are silent.
A holy people will never employ others to worship God for them Never! -- Acts
of worship performed by the ungodly or indifferent, even though they be done
decently and in order, and paid for by the church, are but open mockery and not
worship. Mere sound, though it be pleasant to the ear, is not worship.
"God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." -- John 4:24