While we must love our neighbors, that is, our fellow man, there is no higher duty that we possess than loving God.

Matthew 22:34-38 (ESV)
³⁴  But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. ³⁵  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸  This is the great and first commandment.

Do you love God?  That is a simple question, and one that we probably answer very quickly, without too much self-evaluation.  “Of course, I love God,” we immediately think to ourselves.  But, do we?  Do we love Him in the same unconditional way that He loves us?  God wants us to give this important question serious consideration.  On one occasion, Jesus asked Peter this question three times in a row.

John 21:15-17 (ESV)
¹⁵  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶  He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

There are some unanswered questions about this text and why Jesus asked Peter the same question three times, and why it grieved Peter so much, but one thing is clear—it was an important question for Peter to consider.  From that time forward, He demonstrated that he really did love the Lord.  The question is, do we demonstrate such love?

The one unalterable indication that we love God as we should is our obedience.  Love demands it.

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

No statement could be any more definitive than this.  If there is proper love, there will be conformity to the commandments of God.  PERIOD!  It is not, there could or should be; it is, there will be.  “You will keep my command­ments,” Jesus said.

It does not matter what the commandment is.  If you love God you will obey Him.  It does not matter how difficult it is, or how much you do not like the command.  You will obey it.  It does not matter if you have to sacrifice a little bit.  You will obey, and you will do it gladly, because you love God.  We find this demonstrated throughout the Word of God.

When Noah was commanded to build an ark, the Bible says he moved.  When Abraham was commanded to go to a place, not knowing where he was going, the Bible says he went.  And as the writer of Hebrews wrote, time would fail to tell of the many who showed their faith and love for God by keeping His commandments.  Obedience is the greatest sign that we love God.  I hope it is a sign that we are all revealing.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.