Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.

1 John 5:1 (CSB)

 

True faith and worship involve loving the Father and loving the Son.

Being born of God through Christ, we have the birthright and blessing of belonging to God's family. When we fully embrace God's pure and perfect love, we will learn to love Him in return, and that love will flow from us to others. Thus, if we struggle to love God and those around us, it is because we rely solely on our own effort to do only what God can and will do.

Loving God is not a goal to be achieved, but rather a journey where we learn to let the Spirit lead and guide us to the joy of loving the Father and Son. We don't have to worry about disappointing God or not doing enough because we understand that love, not rules, motivates us to obey and serve Him. This is because God is working in us to do His will according to His good pleasure (c f. Philippians 2:12-13).

When we continue to love God and remain faithful to the revelation of what the gospel says about Him, we will find ever-increasing rest and joy in our knowledge of Him.

What is God saying to me here and what must I do?