DO YOU HATE GOD?

By Seth Myers in Tidbits of Truth on
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Do you hate God? Don’t answer yet. Properly ponder over this pragmatically prolific profundity—er, just think about it for a few seconds.

In Mark 12:30, Jesus said the greatest commandment is that man love God with every fiber of his being (cp. Deut. 6:4,5). So, what about you? Do you love God, or hate Him?

(Thinking “love”?).

OK, let’s skip ahead to the necessary follow-up question: What does it actually mean to “love God”? Since loving God is the greatest commandment (Mk. 12:30), it is probably a good idea to find out what it means to love God!

…according to the Lord, Himself (Jn. 14:15,21,23): To “LOVE God” = To “OBEY God” (cp. Mt. 7:21-23; Lk. 6:46; Jn. 3:36; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; 1 Jn. 5:3).

Thankfully, God has not left us to puzzle it out: for He—in His written word—has told us exactly what it means to “love” Him. Consider the following “God-breathed” passages (2 Tim. 3:16,17):

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, HE it is who loves me…” (John 14:21a).

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…” (John 14:23a).

“For THIS is the love of God, that we keep his commandments…” (1 John 5:3a; cp. 2 John 6).

Thus, according to the Lord, Himself: To “Love God” = To “OBEY God” (cf. Matt. 7:21-23; Luke 6:46; John 3:36; 2 Thess. 1:7-9).

As with all spiritual matters, the only definition that matters is God’s definition. Thankfully, He has spoken (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9-13; Heb. 1:1,2; 1 Pet. 1:20,21; 2 Tim. 3:16,17):

  1. Those who love Him are those who keep His commandments (Jn. 14:15,21,23).
  2. All those who do not keep God’s commandments, by His own definition, hate Him—even if they “feel” that they love Him (Jn. 14:24).

So what about you? Do you love God (obey His word), or hate Him (disregard His word)?

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Published by Seth Myers

Seth Myers is the preacher at the Highway church of Christ in Sullivan, Illinois. He has been preaching full time since July 2011, and graduated from the Nashville School of Preaching & Biblical Studies in April 2016. Seth was born and raised around Kentucky's Land Between the Lakes area, near Paducah, as was his eventual wife, Tabby, whom he married in 2007. They have two daughters (Carson and Quinn) and a son (Roman), and the strangest, most social cat in the world named Trixie, who, to the utter joy of the woman of the house, now lives with the neighbors across the street (and yes, the irony of a cat-hater named "Tabby" has been duly noted). Seth is also a self-taught multi-instrumental hobbyist musician, and enjoys writing and recording original music, as well as covering some most treasured favorites.

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