Love, for God Scripture teaches believers to love God and shows how such love should be expressed in worship and practical service.

Believers’ response to God’s love

1 John 4:19 ESV

We love because he first loved us.

See also Dt 7:7–8; Ps 116:1; Jn 15:16; Eph 2:4–5; 1 Jn 4:10

Love for God is commanded

Matthew 22:37–38 ESV

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. This is the great and first commandment.

See also Dt 6:5; Dt 10:12; Dt 11:1; Jos 22:5; Jos 23:11; Ps 31:23

Loving God involves loving Jesus Christ

John 8:42 ESV

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

See also Jn 5:42; Jn 15:23

Expressing love for God

Delight in worship and in God’s house

Psalm 27:4 ESV

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

See also Ps 26:8; Ps 43:4; Ps 65:4; Ps 84:2; Ps 122:1; Ps 122:6; Ac 2:46–47

Love for God’s word

Psalm 119:97 ESV

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

See also Ps 1:2; Ps 19:7–8; Ps 19:10; Ps 119:16; Ps 119:35; Ps 119:72; Ps 119:163; Je 15:16; Eze 3:3

Self-sacrifice

Luke 14:33 ESV

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

See also Jn 21:15–17; Ro 12:1; Php 3:8

Giving

1 Chronicles 29:3 ESV

Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God:

See also Ex 25:2; Ex 35:5; 1 Ch 29:6; 1 Ch 29:9; 2 Co 8:4–5; 2 Co 8:8; 2 Co 9:7

Obeying God

1 John 5:3 ESV

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

See also Ps 40:8; Jn 14:15; Jn 14:23; Jn 15:14; 2 Jn 6

Loving others

1 John 4:21 ESV

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

See also Jn 13:35; Jn 15:12; 1 Jn 4:11

The blessings of loving God

John 14:15–16 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

See also Jn 14:23; Jn 16:27; 1 Pe 1:8

Examples of love for God and Jesus Christ

Psalm 18:1 ESV

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

See also Ps 73:25; Mt 26:7; Jn 12:3; Lk 2:37; Lk 7:47; Lk 24:53; Jn 11:16; Jn 21:16; Ac 21:13; Heb 6:10