Why do I Love God?

If I were asked this question, I would be thrilled to give affirmative reasons. And these reasons come from a life-long Spirit-filled commitment of my allegiance to God. I love God, and I continue a loving relationship with Him. I learned to love God from a young age.

Having been born and raised by Christian parents, I was taught what it really means to love the Supreme Creator of the Universe, who is God. Loving God is an individual commitment a person has to make for himself or herself. No one can love God on behalf of another person.

As I reflect on my formative years while growing up, I believed and appreciated what the Bible teaches that “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:6).    

I also like to think about what the apostle Paul told Timothy: “How from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Sacred writings refer to the Bible. 

It’s just as if Paul was speaking to me, because of my Christian upbringing, and also from an early age, I too had been acquainted with the Scriptures, which [were] able to make [me] wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 

First of all, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). The Bible also makes this statement about the Christian’s love for God. “We love him because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 KJV). This is fundamental to my faith as a Christian.

God has declared without exception, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). I realized I am included in that statement, and needed a remedy. I understood that from conception in my mother’s womb, I am a sinner; both by nature and by practice. Man commits sin because he is a sinner.

The word sinner means a person who violates God’s moral laws and His commandments. The word sin means “missing the mark” or “to turn aside.”

Adam, the first man God created was the first sinner because he disobeyed God’s commandment. And the Bible says, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

With all these things in mind, I fully realized I needed to be forgiven of my sins and to be reconciled to God. 

The Bible says, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

I subsequently made up my mind, based on God’s Word, repented of my sins, believed in Jesus Christ, and accepted Him as my personal Savior. From that day, which was many years ago, I’m still rejoicing!

Living the Christian life means facing many challenges. However, because of my love for God, and my faith in Him, I’m inspired to continue my allegiance to Him and His holy Word. I fail from time to time, but God has never, and will never, fail me. He has pledged His Word.

He says to me, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). God gives me this assurance. 

Becoming a Christian, doesn’t make a person perfect. The only perfect man who ever lived was the Lord Jesus Christ. “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). 

To err is human. And Christians are humans, too. Therefore, Christians will fail God and sin will be committed. The Bible addresses this situation: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

When we confess our failures and sins to God, forgiveness will result with the promise of cleansing us from all unrighteousness b y God. Isn’t confession good for the soul? Definitely!

My resolve is to continue to love God; be obedient to His word; be faithful in my worship and service by taking the time to pray and put into practice what He expects of me as a Christian. And also “that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18).

It is my fervent hope and prayer that this testimony on “Why do I love God?” will be a source of inspiration for others to do likewise. May the Lord grant it for His name’s sake.