One of our biggest mistakes, which we are never warned about, takes place in the act of loving God, because it doesn't mean spending all day telling the Lord that you love Him. Jesus clearly explained what it means to love Him: He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (John 14.21).

Leaving the human part aside, let's love the Lord as He has stated in this verse: seeking to know His commandments, having them and doing them. We must follow this direction with all our heart and soul, using the authority granted by God. To do anything less is to postpone the love of the Son and the Father for us.

Christ did not deceive us by saying that the proof that we love Him is when our heart inclines towards Him. No, that's something else and has nothing to do with what He instructed. If we want to be people who love Him with complete dedication, we need to know what His precepts are and obey them with faith and power. This is a must!

When we pretend that we don't understand God's instructions about something we have to do for Him, we fail to seek His face - the revelation of the Word - without which we will never be able to accomplish the Lord's will. Never be deceived by the words of the man who, with soft lips, comes calling you beloved and other flattering terms. Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 10:16).           

Treacherous people don't love God and are capable of harming those who are sincere in their mission. Look at how Joab spoke to David: Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing (2 Samuel 3.25). Then Joab sent Abner back, saying he had a message for him, and killed him. Only the Most High knows man's intentions!

David's son Amnon behaved in the same way when, falling in love with his half-sister, he deceived his father by saying he was ill and forced himself on her. She herself had said, And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you (read 2 Samuel 13:13). Those who follow the devil's suggestion don't think about the consequences and commit folly, bringing scandal to the Church of Christ. Such a rebel causes great sorrow to his brothers and sisters in the Lord!

The command is to have the commandments and keep them. You may be the son of one of God's greatest servants, as Amnon was of David's, but if you don't know how to conduct yourself prudently, avoiding evil, the consequences will be terrible, as happened to Amnon at the hands of his brother Absalom. The important thing is to serve the Lord sincerely and faithfully!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares