Love viewed as merely an emotion can be a fragile thing. It can also be something we give without depth as the world gives. And that can lead to endless hours of wondering if someone really loves us or if they are just words of love said to obtain something for their benefit?

The same stands true with God. We can feel emotional love for the image of God, what He represents, what we perceive He is, and what we perceive love to be.

Instead of only sometimes passionate emotions, we need to recognize that intellect is a part of love, as are moral convictions. God’s love for us is reflected in how we return his love. And He has clearly given us direction in that.

John 14:21-24 (ESV) tells us, “And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.”

Which leads us back to scripture. How do you keep His Word? By knowing and living by the God-breathed Word given to us. In an earlier study I did, I shared about one of the Ten Commandments and how we are to have no other God. Knowing we would question how loving Him and knowing He loves us is possible, He gave us more verses in the New Testament to help explain how it works.

Through the Holy Spirit, the words of God were given to all the men who wrote the Holy Scriptures. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is as a teacher. And so, through the Bible, we are taught what pleases God, how He loves us, and how we can love Him.

Taking to heart the truth of “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word,” followed by “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words” makes it clear, sometimes painfully clear, that to know the love that goes between God and his followers, we have to know, and abide, by his Word.

As I study many Biblical verses on love as a way to return to and hold fast to my first love, I have been impacted by how loose my commitment has sometimes been in maintaining that relationship. This is a journey we as believers are on together, and we have to be faithful to know all God desires for us to know and to have. Be kind to yourself, don’t judge yourself, but commit to going forward, even if it is just a little each day, and experience God’s love for you.