In Deuteronomy, chapter thirty, verse twenty, the Israelites were to maintain their relationship with God by loving Him and obeying His voice. To express that obedience, however, they had to recognize their inability to fulfill the law by bringing sacrifices of atonement for their shortcomings. Life and salvation are not a guarantee as a reward for perfect obedience. The law assumes the imperfection of faith and submissiveness on the part of God’s people and provides the sacrificial system that atoned for sin. Israel’s ultimate hope rested in the mercy and grace of God.
That thou mayest love the Lord thy God: Moses shows the Israelites their duty. To love God as the Lord, a being most amiable, and as their God, a God in covenant with them. The evidence of the Israelites’ love is to obey his voice in everything. By constancy in this love and obedience, to cleave to him all their days. And what encouragement had they to do this?
For God is the life and the length of believers’ days: He gives life, preserves life, and restores, prolongs life, by his power, though it is a frail life, and by his presence, though it is a forfeited life. He sweetens life with his comforts and completes all in life everlasting. Those who love God will follow His commandments and precepts to obtain mercy and favor from Him. Loving God is not just words but a lifestyle because actions speak louder than words.
Today, some people say they love God but live sinful lives. Love makes one and not split into two. Take the heart, for example, with two sides that start in the middle and end in the middle: joined together. There is no room for anything else. Trying to love God and the world’s way will end in disappointment.