436. What Is "Loving God" and What Does It Avail?
Love to God is commanded (Deu_2:1) and is, indeed, the one great commandment (Mat_22:38). It should be with all the heart, and is better than sacrifice (Deu_6:5; Mar_12:33). It's produced by the Holy Ghost and engendered by God's love to us and by answers to prayer (Gal_5:22; 1Jn_4:19; Psa_116:1). Christ gave us an example of it, and it is a characteristic of saints (Joh_14:31; Psa_5:11). Those who have this love are known to God, and are preserved and delivered by him; they part alee of his mercy and all things work together for their good (1Co_8:3; Psa_145:20; Psa_91:14; Exo_20:6; Rom_8:28). When persevering (Jud_1:21), and exhorting one another (Psa_31:23), saints will have joy, they will have a hatred of sin. In their hearts will be obedience to God, and he, besides being faithful to those who love him, will fulfill in them his promises (Psa_5:11; 1Jn_5:1; Psa_97:10; Deu_30:20; Deu_7:9; Deu_13:3; Deu_11:13; Psa_69:36; Jas_1:12). This love to God naturally leads to love to Christ. Here again we have a good example set by God himself and by the saints (Mat_17:5; Joh_5:20; 1Pe_1:8). Such love to him should be manifested in seeking, obeying, ministering, preferring him to all others, and in taking up his cross (Joh_14:15; Mat_27:55; Mat_10:37; Mat_10:38). It is characteristic of saints and an evidence of adoption. Those who have it are loved by both God and Christ, and enjoy communion with them (Son_1:4; Joh_8:42; Joh_14:21, Joh_14:23; Joh_16:27; Joh_14:23). Such love should be sincere, ardent, supreme, unquenchable and "unto death" (Eph_6:24; Son_1:7; Mat_10:37; Song of Son_2:5, Son_8:7; Act_21:13; Rev_12:11).
Source: 555 Difficult Bible Questions Answered