Continue with Your Future, Your Choice! - CHOOSE TO LOVE GOD

Love is God's primary attribute.  "God is love," wrote the apostle John under inspiration.  (1 John 4:8)  For this reason, when asked what the greatest of all commandments, Jesus said:  "You must love Jehovah your God with our whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind. (Matthew 22:37)  A real relationship with Jehovah God must not not be based on fear or blind obedience, but on love.  Why, though, should we choose to love him?

Jehovah's love for mankind is like that of loving parents for their children.  Though imperfect, loving parents instruct, encourage, support, and discipline their children because they want them to be happy and to flourish.  What do parents desire in return?  They want their children to love them and to take heart what they as parents have imparted to them for their good.  Is it not appreciation for what all he has done for us? 

LISTEN TO HIS VOICE

In the original language of the Bible, the word "listen" often carries the sense of "obey."  Is this not what we mean when we say to a child, "Listen to your parents"?  Thus, to listen to God's voice implies learning and obeying what he  says.  Since we cannot literally hear God's voice, we listen to him by reading and applying by what is in his Word, the Bible. -1 John 5:3. 

To show the importance of listening to God's voice, on one occasion Jesus said:  "Man must not live on bread along, but on every word that comes from Jehovah's mouth."  (Matthew 4:4) As important as physical food is to us, taking in knowledge of God is, in fact, even more so.  Why?  Wise King Solomon explained:  "Wisdom is a protection just as money is a protection, but the advantage of knowledge is this:  Wisdom preserves the life of its owner."  (Ecclesiastes 7:12) Knowledge and wisdom from God can protect us today and help us to make the wise choice that leads to everlasting life in the future.

Next time: Continue with Your Future, Your Choice! - STICKING TO HIM 

From the jw.org publications