Learning the Excelling Way of LOVE

We Must Learn to Love God

Jehovah God knows that in spite of everything, mankind is still capable of showing love. That is why he requires all who want to please him to manifest love to the best of their ability. This requirement was made clear by God's Son, Jesus Christ, when he was asked to name the greatest commandment in the Law given to Israel. He said: " 'You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment." Then he added: "The second, like it, is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandment the whole Law hangs." -Matthew 22:37-40.

Many people feel, however, that it is very difficult to love someone whom they cannot see, and we humans cannot see Jehovah God because he is a Spirit. (John 4:24) Still, we are affected every day by what God does, as we all depend on the many good things he created for our benefit. The apostle Paul pointed out this face when he said: "[God] did not leave himself without witness in that he did good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts to the full with food and good cheer." -Acts 14:17.

Even though everyone benefits from the Creator's provisions in one way or another, comparatively few are grateful to him or are moved to give thanks to him. Thus, we need to take stock of all the good things that God has done for us and to meditate on all the qualities that permeate all that he does. Doing so should enable us to discern that awe-inspiring wisdom and power of our Grand Creator. (Isaiah 45:18) Above all, it is , in that he not only granted us life but also made it possible for us to enjoy the many pleasures of living.

For example, think of the endless variety of beautiful flowers that God created on earth. How wonderful for us that he also endowed us with the ability to see and to derive great pleasure from these things of beauty! Similarly, God provided all sorts of nourishing food for our sustenance. How thoughtful of him that he also created in us the sense of taste so that we can experience such enjoyment from eating! Are these not eloquent proofs that God truly loves us and has our best interests in mind? -Psalm 145:16, 17; Isaiah 42:5, 8.

Besides revealing himself to us through the "book of nature," the Creator, through his Word, the Bible, shows us what kind of God he is. This is because in the Bible are recorded many of the loving things Jehovah God did in the past and to the numerous blessings he promised to bestow upon mankind in the near future. (Genesis 22:17, 18; Exodus 3:17; psalm 72:6-16; Revelation 21:4, 5) Above all, the Bible reveals to us the greatest expression of God's love toward mankind -giving his only-begotten Son to be our Redeemer so that we can be freed from the bondage of sin and death. (Romans 5:8) Indeed, the more we learn about our loving Creator, the more we are moved to love him from our heart.

Next time: Learning to Love Our Fellow Humans

Watchtower, 1999