The Cardinal Characteristic of Knowing God [podcast]

The word “love” appears 311 times in God’s Word.

It’s one thing to know the Bible. It’s another thing to know the God of the Bible.

“Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.” Deuteronomy 13:4

This is why He created you – to know Him.

“And this is life eternal (the whole purpose for it), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

The disciple has nothing more important today than to obey God in choosing to worship, to love, and to obey Him. Let it be dear LORD, this day.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

If you don’t have time for PEOPLE for whom Jesus died it’s 100% because you don’t have time for God Himself (Matthew 6:6, 33; Mark 1:35). Turn back to the LORD, now – before it’s too late because you do not have the fruit that demonstrates you are known of Him who “is love” (1 John 4:8, 16).

Those who do not love their neighbor are not enduring to the end and will be cast into hell (Matthew 10:22; 24:13):

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 

IF you do not love the members of HIS body, you do not know Christ. Do you evade God’s people OR do you get excited to hear from and be with them?

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1

“I love hearing from my brothers and sisters!! They’re my forever family.” Dana Carter

Love. Truth. Know.

Note: The Book of 1 John has at least 3 power words and truths to behold: 1. Love, 2. Truth, 3. Know

“Love” appears 44 times in 1 John.

“Truth” appears 10 times in 1 John.

“Know” appears 28 times in 1 John.

Some have called the book of 1 John the book of certainties as the apostle John is blunt, curt, strong, forceful in/with the truth, and loving – a true man of steal, and velvet.

Read any book of the Bible 10-20 times through it powerfully effective in getting that Word of our God and its divine thoughts into your heart and mind.

Knowing, Loving, Obeying, Worshipping Jesus

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35

Rooted and Grounded in God’s Love. The chief end, the divine purpose of understanding is that we might obey Him and be knit together in His love. Listen to Paul’s prayer:

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21

Those who love, act, they care. See the Good Samaritan message of Jesus in Luke 10:25-37.

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18

In these final days before our LORD’s return, as He foretold, the love of many toward God and therefore His people, is waxing cold. Let us be encouraged to know that when the believers in Thessalonica were having their faith persecuted and assailed, their love abounded:

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:” 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 

Perhaps you would choose to read 1 Corinthians 13 each morning this week and pray that your LORD would teach you about how to know Him and to walk in His love.

And also, you may see fit to read 1 John – the book of truth, love, certainties, absolutes.

Love | The Return of Jesus

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If any man love the World the Love of the Father is not in Him [podcast]

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Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear [podcast]

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The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold [podcast]

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