Loving God’s Way

Just before God graciously helped the children of Israel reach the promised land, he gave Moses amazing truth. This revelation included one of the key areas that we, even today, can grow in–God’s love. We find 16 references to God’s love. Biblically, the number 8 shows a new beginning and the number 2 establishes a thing. Here in Deuteronomy, love [8 x 2] establishes a new beginning for those believers. Let’s look at the 16 places where the English word “love” is used in the King James Version of Deuteronomy to see what we can learn about God’s love then, and how God’s love can help us live His promises today.

Deuteronomy 5:10:
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

We all make mistakes. That is what God’s mercy is for—to forgive and help us forget and move on with the good things in life. Loving the Father and obeying what He wants, allows His mercy to flow in our lives. It is through Jesus Christ that this mercy is complete.

Deuteronomy 6:5:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Jesus quoted this scripture more than once. It was his lifeblood and system for living each day. God is Lord, and when we acknowledge that, we don’t love our own ideas more than His. Heart is the inner self; soul is all that we think and do; might is every ounce of commitment in our being. That’s how to love our gracious heavenly Father.

Deuteronomy 7:7:
The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people.

It’s not how big or smart or beautiful or rich that you are that matters. And it’s not how many people you “win to the Lord” or how many almsdeeds you do to expand the church roster. God looks on the heart and that’s where we can be honest with Him and then ourselves and other people.

Deuteronomy 7:9:
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

What kind of example can we set for our children and grandchildren? Loving the Father and obeying His written Word and His spirit (“Christ in you”) within, allows Him to be faithful in your life. His covenant through the work of Jesus Christ is complete. Now we see His mercy not only in our lives, but in those offspring that we love. That’s the greatest inheritance you can give your child—loving God and serving our Lord Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy 7:13:
And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

Look how the Father shows His love: blessing and multiplying the good in our lives. Healthy children, plenty to eat and share with others—fruitful in each and every way.

Deuteronomy 10:12:
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear [respect] the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

That is a simple “require”-ment. There is nothing specific listed here about doing what other people think we should do (no matter how well-meaning and religious they are). God doesn’t ask us to do things to “look good” to others. Jesus handled that beautifully in Matthew 6. Here is what we are required to do: respect God, walk in His ways the best we can, love Him, and serve Him with all our heart and soul. That may seem easier said than done. But with God’s grace in Christ, we can do it.

Deuteronomy 10:15:
Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

Why did the Lord “choose” Abraham and Isaac and Jacob’s children for a special blessing? Because these three men trusted and obeyed the Creator of the heavens and earth. They were imperfect and made plenty of mistakes. But they did one thing right—they believed God would send the Messiah from their lineal offspring. Believing on the Messiah is what Jesus said people are to do in John 6:29: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

Deuteronomy 10:19:
Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Now that we’ve got it straight with the Father, we can love other people. Strangers were those not born from Israel’s family. They came in by “grace and mercy” to the blessings and benefits of a believing people. In their great need, these “strangers” also believed, just as Israel had believed to escape the bondage and pain of Egypt. Today, with God doing so much for us in Christ (Romans 8:32), we can extend that love and grace to people who need His deliverance. We are ambassadors for Christ, reconciling other men and women to the God of love and peace.

Deuteronomy 11:1:
Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.

How often would you like for God to bless you? Always? Then simply do your best to love and obey Him always. Jesus Christ paid the price so that we have God’s help to be our best.

Deuteronomy 11:13,14:
And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season….

Whatever you need to live a good life, God will provide when we love and trust Him. Verse 16 says: “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them.” Maybe a little less internet and a little more fellowship with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will help you grow in love.

We don’t want to be “deceived.” Deception is not usually a personal goal. But it happens when we don’t keep God first in our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Each day it’s our choice to “take heed” to ourselves and walk in the good and right way (I Samuel 12:23; Proverbs 3:5,6; Matthew 7:13,14).

Deuteronomy 11:22,23:
For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him.
Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.

Does God play favorites and have political agendas? No. He helps those who trust in Him. Then those who work for the Devil (no matter their political or cultural affiliation) will be defeated. America is divided today because people don’t realize that the real battle is between the true God and Father of Jesus Christ—and the “god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4), the Devil.

Deuteronomy 13:3:
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

God doesn’t enjoy seeing us deceived. The word translated “proveth” means to test or assay metals to make them pure. Despite the adversary’s devices, we can love God and follow His direction for our lives. That starts with making Jesus our Lord and believing that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Then we will see the purity of walking by God’s gift of holy spirit within. There’s an abundance of false prophets and “dreamers” who speak for nations, political groups, and religions. Loving the Father with all our heart and soul will help us navigate these treacherous spiritual waters around us.

Deuteronomy 19:9:
If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three.

The context here is God making good on His promises. The principle is still the same: walk with the Father and you will be blessed.

Deuteronomy 30:6:
And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

Circumcision was a sign of commitment to love and serve the Lord. But the real key issue is always the heart, not the outward flesh. God had Jeremiah warn God’s people of this same thing (Jeremiah 4:4). Jesus showed the Father’s true heart for healing and deliverance regarding circumcision (John 7:23). It’s all a matter of heart. And we can show our “seed” (children and grandchildren) how to live in God’s love.

Deuteronomy 30:15,16:
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Would you like to have life and good? Moses is “wrapping up” God’s exhortation to Israel here. This man of God spoke what needed to be said. Jesus was a prophet like unto Moses (Acts 3:22; 7:37) who spoke what the Father wanted him to speak. We should read the gospels regularly and know the words of our Lord and Savior. Here is the simple formula for blessings in life: love God and obey.

Deuteronomy 30:20:
That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

I want to “cleave” to God by obeying His “voice” in the scriptures and as He speaks to me through His spirit. Jesus Christ died and rose again that we might have that relationship with the Father: “boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” (Ephesians 3:12 ). Like the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—we dwell in God’s goodness and light. God is our life and the length of our days. Let’s really love today, the way that God wants us to, in Christ.