A relationship is about intimacy, effective communication, friendship, respect, and understanding. And when it comes to building a relationship with God it’s the same thing. The goal of building a relationship with God is to get to know him better. We want to know him better because we love Him. So, how can we show God that we love him? And that we want to please him?
In this post we will look at the first part of the GPS system, God. Which goes over how to build a relationship with God.
Loving God
Matthew 22:36-40:
36‘“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” [Mark 12:28]
37 And Jesus replied to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [Deut 6:5] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ [Lev 19:18; Matt 19:19] 40 The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.” ‘
Matthew 22:36-38 Talks about the first and greatest commandment, Which is loving God. This is the goal if you want to to build a relationship with God. Now, the question that may come up is “How can I show God that I love God?” You can find the answer to this question in 1 John 5:3
1. Obedience
‘For the [true] love of God is this: that we habitually keep His commandments and remain focused on His precepts. And His commandments and His precepts are not difficult [to obey]. 1 John 5:3
The only way that you can show God that you truly love him is through your actions. Your action of obedience. The bible also mentions that obedience is better than sacrifices. Without obedience it is impossible to please God. So, Now that you know that obedience to His commandments is the only way to show Him that you love him, The next question that may come up is “How can I be obedient to His commandments? The answer to this question is in next verse.
2. Meditating On The Word Of God
‘But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2
In order to be obedient to God you have to delight in the word of God (the law of the Lord). But It can be a difficult task to obey something you don’t delight in. You may be able to do it short-term, but long-term it will be a struggle. So, How do you delight in the word of God? The verse above gives us a clear and precise answer. In order to delight in the word of God you need to meditate on it day and night. This is how you show God that you truly love Him.
When you meditate on the word of God day and night, you delight in it. By delighting in the word of God, you become born-again. This basically means that you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). which leads to you obeying the commandments given in the word of God. And through obedience to the commandments given in the word, you prove to God that you truly love Him.
Loving Your Neighbor As Yourself
Matthew 22:39-40 talks about the second commandment equal to the first. Loving your neighbor as yourself. Note that the second part is split further in two more parts. Loving yourself through God and loving your neighbors through God. In the next paragraphs I will explain both parts and the connection they have with each other.
Loving Yourself Through God
It is important to mention that you can only love yourself the right way through God. Because God is love as mentioned in next verse
‘Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience]. ‘ 1 John 4:7
Love cannot be shown without God. Because God is love and anyone that wants to love needs to go to the source of love. The right way to love yourself is through God when you obey his commandments of God. A common misconception that people have, is that the commandments were set in place, in order to limit or torture Humanity. But this is not accurate, Because the commandments were set in place by God in order for us as humans to prosper here on earth. The commandments are of benefit for us.
So, when you obey the commandments you are doing it for your own well-being. This is the highest form of self-love. You may think you love yourself. But if you are not doing it through obeying the commandments of God, you are fooling yourself.
True self-love comes from obeying the commandments of God that were set in place for you to prosper in all areas of your life. Obedience to the commandments of God regarding how you should conduct yourself is how you love yourself through God. Psalm 1 goes into the benefits of obeying the commandments of God.
Loving Your Neighbor Through God
Just like you can only love youself right through God. You can also only love your neighbor as yourself through God. We can see this in the same verse mentioned above in 1 John 4:7
‘Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience]. ‘
The verse above says everyone that loves others is born of God. Note “Born of God.” This basically means that you are transformed through the renewing of your mind (Born-again). Which means You desire to do the will of God and obey His commandments through obedience.
This is how you love your neighbors as yourself through God. You will obey the commandments regarding how you should treat your neighbors in the word of God. Just like how you obey the commandments regarding how you should love yourself in the word of God.