Benefits of Loving God, Part 3
David W Palmer
As we have seen, obeying God’s commandments about love and Jesus’s one new commandment brings us many benefits. So far we have looked at five of them; today we see:
6. Crown of Righteousness
(2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV) “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
This particular benefit is associated with love for “his appearing.” No one, however, will love his appearing if they don’t love him and his light. The associated promise is that they will receive the “Crown of righteousness.” Are you loving Jesus, looking forward to his return, and to seeing him at the “Judgment Seat of Christ”? (Rom. 14:10, 2 Cor. 5:10). If so, he has “laid up” for you a “crown of righteousness” in your size, with your name written on it.
7. Crown of Life
(James 1:12 NKJV) “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Another crown God promised to those who love him is the “Crown of life.” However, this passage raises a very important point; it says that God has promised this crown to those who “love him.” But it also says that it goes to “the man who endures temptation.” This implies strongly that those who truly love God will endure temptation—without their faith failing (See: Luke 22:32). Are you ready for that?
If you successfully endure temptation—by faith in his grace—you will receive the crown associated with life. This implies that God’s life will flow to and through you; in other words, you break through to hearing his voice. In John 6:63, Jesus said that the words he speaks to us are “spirit and they are life.” And, if we meet all the other conditions God has for us to receive eternal salvation, we can receive that life eternally—eternal life.
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8. Remembered by God
(Hebrews 6:10 NKJV) “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Another way of saying that God is “not unjust to forget,” is to say that he will remember. God will remember your “work and labour of love” that you have “shown toward his name”—your service to the saints. This is a great reward and benefit associated with living a life of practical love that brings glory to God’s reputation.
9. All Things Working Together for Good
(Romans 8:28 NKJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
This verse contains the final benefit associated with loving God. We often quote this promise, hoping it applies to us. However, we can easily forget that it has conditions: all things work together for good to those who “love God,” who are the “called according to his purposes.” So, as well as loving God, you would have to be “called” and obedient to his purpose for you to receive this promise.
There are many wonderful benefits from loving God. What are the ones we looked at again?
- Abiding in his love
- Known by God
- Grace being with you
- Blessings of good “things”
- An heir of the Kingdom
- Crown of righteousness
- Crown of Life
- Remembered by God
- All things working together for good
These provide a great motivation for praying for God’s love to abound in you today.
(Philippians 1:9 NKJV) “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.”