When asked by the Pharisees which is the greatest commandment, in Matt 22:34-40, Jesus replied, “Loving God with all of your heart, soul, and strength”. This is the “shema prayer” from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, and he said to love your neighbor as yourself (Lev 19:18).

1 John 4:19 says we should love God because he first loved us. When did he first love us? John 3:16 says God so loved the world that he gave his for born son the Messiah, and those that follow him will inherit the blessing of eternal life. This eternal life is the fulfillment of the promise to restore humanity after Adam’s sin (Gen 3:15).

If you don’t actively attempt to keep God’s commandments then you don’t love God, because we will do anything for the ones we love. Jesus even said, “if you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If you don’t have time for God, then you don’t love God, because we make time for the things and people we love. If you don’t love your neighbor then you don’t love God because God is love (1 John 4:7-8). 1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.