How To Show God That You Love Him
Brother Richie Juatco: When it comes to expressing love, words do matter. Hearing someone say that they love you, whether it be a spouse or a fiancé or a family member or a close friend, it really does help strengthen the relationship we have with that person.
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How to Show God that You Love Him
But we are also aware that words alone are not enough evidence to prove our love. And that’s how the saying “Talk is cheap” came about or “Actions speak louder than words.”
Hello, I’m Brother Richie Juatco, and here in our Southern California studios in Anaheim is Brother Joe Velasquez. Hi, Brother Joe.
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Brother Joe Velasquez
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Joe Velasquez: Hello, Brother Richie. Now, if we as human beings require more than mere words to believe or accept someone’s love, well, it would be very strange to believe that God Himself has no such requirements and will accept just anyone that professes love for Him. So today we’ll go over how we can prove we love God.
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Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie: But before we get into how to show God we love Him, let’s first establish why. Why is that so important? Why is it so important to love God in the first place? And just how important is it to truly love God? How important is that, Brother Joe?
Brother Joe: Well, Brother Richie, the Lord Jesus Christ answers us here in Mark 12:28-30. And this is what is stated:
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
[Mark 12:28-30 New International Version]
Brother Joe: And so here we can see that not only is it really important to love God, but the Lord Jesus Christ emphasized that it is the most important command.
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How to Show God that You Love Him
Brother Joe: So, this is a top priority. And let’s also understand that loving God should not just be a minor part of our lives, but we are being taught to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” so we can see that we should love the Lord our God more than anyone else, Brother Richie.
Brother Richie: That’s right. Brother Joe. And as we mentioned earlier, when expressing love to people in our lives and vice versa, when accepting love from others,we understand that words are nice, but definitely not enough to actually prove love. You know, real relationships built on love have parties from both sides considering what actions the other is requiring as evidence of love. So people who want a real relationship with God, will not merely say that they love Him, but would do what is necessary to prove their love to Him.
Brother Joe: Well, Brother Richie, what then is the biblical proof that one really loves God? How do we prove we love God?
Brother Richie: Brother Joe, we can read the answer that the Bible gives here in 1 John. We’ll read 5:3, and this is what is written:
Loving God means keeping His commandments and his commandments are not burdensome.
[1 John 5:3 New Living Translation]
Brother Richie: So, according to the Bible, keeping or following the commandments of God is by definition loving God. Therefore, even though a person might think it, feel it, scream it a thousand times, or do whatever he or she believes is proof of their love for God, but yet is not following His commandments—again, by the Bible’s definition, that person does not really love God. It is also important to note that a person will not be able to follow God’s commandments if He does not know God’s commandments.
Brother Joe: And so, Brother Richie, this is also the reason why we here in the Church Of Christ always encourage everyone to join us in studying God’s words so that we’ll be aware of what He is commanding or requiring in order to have a real relationship with Him.
Brother Richie: So, Brother Joe, what is one of God’s commandments to prove our genuine love to him?
Brother Joe: Oh, Brother Richie, to answer that question, we’ll turn here to 1 John 4:20-21, and this is what we can read:
But if we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don’t love the people we can see? The commandment that God has given us is: “Love God and love each other!”
[1 John 4:20-21 Contemporary English Version]
Brother Joe: And so, we can notice here that God commands us to love Him and to love each other. So loving each other is one way we can prove that we really do love God.
Brother Richie: Brother Joe, this is very much needed today.
Brother Joe: Now, why do you say that, Brother Richie?
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Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie: Well, the reason why I say that is because unfortunately, we can see that many do not have love for each other. In fact, there are many people and groups of people who actually promote the opposite of love, which is hate. We are living witnesses, right? Brother Joe and all those that are watching as well.
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How to Show God that You Love Him
Brother Richie: We can see what is starting to become a common thing, where people encourage others to dislike people they themselves dislike. Some entice others to hate people that they’ve never even met. Now people like this who also claim to love God are, again, by definition of the Bible—they are liars.
Brother Joe: And that is so true, Brother Richie. So, people leading double lives are proving that they don’t really love God. Now, remember, real love for God isn’t just mere words, but actually following his commands. So what other important command must be kept or always obeyed to prove our love for God, Brother Richie?
Brother Richie: Now Brother Joe, we can read another command of God to prove that we love Him. We’ll read here in Deuteronomy 10:12-13. It says this:
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.
[Deuteronomy 10:12- 13 New Living Translation]
Brother Richie: So here, we want to point out that God is the one who sets the requirements as proof or evidence of love for him. He requires that His servants, as we read, “love Him and serve him with all our hearts and souls.”
Brother Richie: So now, we are learning that service to him is necessary to properly show one’s love for him.
Brother Joe: But Brother Richie, how should his people worship or serve Him?
Brother Richie: Well, Brother Joe, just as we read, it said here “serve him with all our heart and soul.” Now this is why worship service to God is such a vital part in the lives of those who truly love God.
Brother Joe: And so here in the Church Of Christ, congregational worship services are continuously religiously conducted twice a week in the mid-week and weekends. Now, is merely attending congregational worship services enough to prove our love for God, Brother Richie?
Brother Richie: Oh no, Brother Joe. Not worshiping Him alone. That’s not enough evidence to prove that we love God, because God also requires that His people, as we read, live in a way that pleases Him. So, one should actually put into practice the commandments he or she learns from the worship service. Now that that’s clear, just how important it is to love God—in fact, we learn it’s the most important commandment and to actually prove love to Him? It’s by following His commands. Let’s learn what blessing or benefit would one have or what would be the result if they really and truly did love God? What would be the result, Brother Joe?
Brother Joe: Well, for the answer, Brother Richie, we’ll turn to the Holy Bible. Here in Romans 8:28, and this is what is stated here:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
[Romans 8:28 New American Standard Bible]
Brother Joe: And so, here we can read what God will do for those who love Him. The Bible states that He will cause all things to work together for their good.
Brother Richie: That is a wonderful situation, Brother Joe. And so, even seemingly bad situations would actually turn out to be good for them.
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How to Show God that You Love Him
Brother Joe: So what should we notice though, Brother Richie? The situation is not experienced by everyone.
Brother Richie: Who is it for, then?
Brother Joe: Well, this is for those, according to the Holy Bible, who love God. And again, we see here the importance of sincerely loving God.
Brother Richie: Now, how does the Bible identify the people who truly love God?
Brother Joe: Well, Brother Richie, the Bible describes them as those who are called according to His purpose.
Brother Richie: Well, then that’s what a person should make sure of, that he or she is amongst those that are called according to God’s purpose.
Brother Joe: So the obvious question now, Brother Richie: What is that? What is God’s purpose or goal for those whom He loves, and where does he want them to be gathered?
Brother Richie: Very good questions, Brother Joe. Let’s get the answer to the first part of that question, what is God’s purpose or goal in calling people? We’ll read here in Ephesians 1:8-10, it says this:
…God, with full wisdom and understanding, let us know his secret purpose. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ. His goal was to carry out his plan, when the right time came, that all things in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the head.
Ephesians 1:8-10 New Century Version
Brother Richie: Here, the Bible teaches us that God’s purpose, His goal or plan, is that everyone, as we read, would be joined together in Christ as the head. So we know that the people that love God, they’re going to follow this because we’ve learned that loving God is following Him.
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Brother Joe Velasquez
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Joe: And Brother Richie, we also know that there are going to be some watching this that might be thinking, “Well, I’ve already done that. I’m a Christian. Well, that proves I love God.” But we’ve learned that just saying or feeling this without actually doing what is being instructed or commanded, would prove otherwise.
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Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie: Since those that love God will be joined together with Christ as the head, well, we need to know for sure what is Christ the head of? And that is the second part of our question earlier. Where does God call those who love Him according to His purpose? So where is that, Brother Joe?
Brother Joe: Well, Brother Richie, let’s read the answer recorded here in the Holy Bible. In Ephesians 5:23 and 25. And this is what we can read:
A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body… A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.
[Ephesians 5:23 and 25 Contemporary English Version]
Brother Joe: And so, it’s very clear here in the verses that Christ is the head and the Savior of the Church. Now, it must be pointed out that Christ is not the head of multiple churches or simply a body of so-called believers. Rather, He is the head of just one singular Church.
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How to Show God that You Love Him
Brother Richie: Now, we take the time to point this out because we can see at present there are numerous different churches with various names, diverse beliefs and an assortment of faith, while at the same time all claiming to be following the Bible. Now, since it is vital to correctly follow the instructions of joining together in the biblical Church, this means we can’t afford to make a mistake regarding this. Which Church does the Bible teach as the body of Christ, where those whom God loves—that is where He is calling them into.
Brother Richie: What is that Church, Brother Joe?
Brother Joe:
Well, Brother Richie, the Bible provides the answer and we can read it here in Acts 20:28, and this is what is stated:
Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.
Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation
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Brother Joe Velasquez
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Joe: So the Bible specifies which church Christ is the head of. It is the Church Of Christ. Now, since the Biblical Church is the body of Christ, well, it’s not difficult to see why it’s called the Church Of Christ. As we’ve been discussing how to prove our love to God, God Himself is showing His love to us and all of those listening by revealing His purpose or plan for all of us to be joined together in the Church Of Christ or by being part of the body of Christ.
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Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie: Now, for those learning this for the first time, we encourage you to keep listening and studying with us to find out the biblical process of how to join or enter the genuine Church Of Christ. And for those already members of the Church, remember that although joining the Church is a major step to prove our love for God, it is not the only requirement. We learned earlier that loving God means keeping His commandments. So we have to keep striving to, as we also learned, to live in a way that pleases him.
Brother Joe: That’s right, Brother Richie. And because we learned that God would cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, what’s the best thing God will provide them, which is also the reason why the top priority in our lives should be proving our love to God, no matter what it takes?
Brother Richie: Brother Joe, we can read and we will hear in James 1:12 what the Bible teaches. It says:
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 New International Version
Brother Richie: Truly loving God will result in receiving the crown of life, or entrance in the Holy City. Notice that this blessing is for those who prove their love to God, even if they have to persevere under trials or difficult situations. Nowadays, it might seem more difficult to really follow the commandments of God.
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How to Show God that You Love Him
Brother Richie: We know there are so many distractions that will keep us from obeying Him. Other people might feel it’s burdensome to base their whole life on God’s teachings written in the Bible. But for those that truly love God, the Bible states that God’s commandments are not burdensome.
Brother Joe: On behalf of all of us here at The Message, we would like to thank you for joining us today in our study of God’s words.
Brother Richie: We hope that you will continue to watch this and other programs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ). But before we go, please join us for a short prayer.
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The Message
Brother Richie: Our Heavenly Father, we approach You humbly, and we thank You so much for allowing us to hear Your words. We can see how You are showing Your mercy and love for all those listening. We praise You and we worship Your most holy name. We thank You for making it very clear to us how You require Your servants to show You their love, and that is why we ask that You help all of us.
Help us, dear Father, that we can follow Your commands, that we will be able to not only understand them, but we will put them into practice proving our true and genuine love for You. We also are very grateful because there are those watching this program that they truly want to know how to fulfill Your purpose. You have also made clear from Your words in the Holy Scriptures that those that You call inside the Church Of Christ, those are the ones that You are showing Your mercy to and Your love. We are asking that You help all those that are hoping to always be with You. Guide them, dear Father, that they will not only hear this message, but they will continue to learn Your truth inside the true Church Of Christ.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, we also approach You. We ask that You please intercede our prayer to our God and help us that we’ll be able to follow Your example, be able to truly be inside Your body or Your Church, with You as our head, always staying under the love of our God in heaven.
Dear Father, we believe that You are hearing our prayer. We also pray for our leaders. Please bless the Church Administration that You are using to guide Your nation in these last days. Help us to always be united with them that we can learn your true message. We pray for all of these things through the name of Your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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