A Call to Genuine Devotion, Living Faith, and Love in Action
Opening Scripture
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Matthew 22:37-39 (KJV)
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
1 John 4:20 (KJV)
Main Idea: If we truly love God, that love will be seen in the way we live—through obedience, compassion, prayer, and service to others.
Church, we are living in a time when many people know how to say the right words, but God is still looking for hearts that truly belong to Him. This message is a call to move beyond empty profession and into genuine devotion—a devotion that can be seen in our love, our obedience, our prayer life, and our service to others. If we say we love God, then our lives must preach what our lips proclaim.
Saying “I love God” is easy. But heaven is not moved by words alone—it is moved by a life surrendered to Him. Scripture teaches that true love for God is not merely spoken with the lips; it is proven in the heart, revealed in our choices, and displayed in the way we live every day. If our love for God is real, it will be seen in how we treat people, how we obey His Word, how we seek Him in prayer, and how we serve in His name (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; John 14:15; James 2:17).
The apostle John gives us a solemn warning: a person cannot honestly claim to love God while walking in hatred, bitterness, or contempt toward others. Love for God and love for people are inseparable. What we do with the people in front of us says much about what is truly in our hearts before the God we cannot see. If our confession is real, our conduct must testify to it (1 John 4:20-21; Matthew 22:37-39).
1. Treat Others with Love and Compassion
Love for God becomes visible when we walk in love toward others. Kindness, patience, forgiveness, mercy, and generosity are not small matters—they are holy evidence that God is at work in us. It is one thing to sing about love on Sunday; it is another thing to choose grace over grudges, compassion over coldness, and forgiveness over revenge on Monday morning. The one who truly loves God will strive to reflect His heart in the way they treat family, neighbors, strangers, and even enemies (1 John 4:7-8; Luke 6:27-28; Colossians 3:12-14).
2. Follow His Teachings
Jesus spoke plainly when He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Love that never leads to obedience is only sentiment. Real devotion is seen when we choose truth over compromise, holiness over convenience, mercy over pride, and integrity over selfish gain. Obedience is not the lifeless labor of a slave terrified of punishment; it is the willing response of a child who loves the Father. When we honor His Word in daily life, we show that our faith is alive and our love is sincere (John 14:15; Micah 6:8; 1 John 2:3-6).
3. Spend Time in Prayer and Reflection
No relationship can grow without time, attention, and communion, and our walk with God is no different. Prayer is not a religious routine—it is fellowship with the living God. It is where we pour out our hearts, give thanks for His goodness, seek His wisdom, and quiet ourselves before His presence. When we meditate on His Word, our minds are renewed, our faith is strengthened, and our hearts are drawn closer to Him. A soul that truly loves God will not be satisfied to live distant from Him (Psalm 63:1; Philippians 4:6-8; Hebrews 11:6).
4. Serve Your Community
Faith must move beyond intention and become action. When we serve the poor, encourage the weary, help the vulnerable, and use our gifts for the good of others, we honor God in a powerful and practical way. Service is love with sleeves rolled up. It is the gospel made visible through willing hands and compassionate hearts. A person who truly loves God will not remain unmoved by the burdens of people around them, because the love of God always reaches outward (Matthew 5:16; Galatians 5:13; James 2:14-17).
What “If Anyone Says, ‘I Love God’” Really Means
When Scripture says, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’” it is confronting empty religion and exposing false devotion. A person may speak the language of faith, quote Scripture, and appear outwardly spiritual, but if hatred, unforgiveness, malice, and cruelty remain unchecked in the heart, the profession is hollow. Love for God is not measured only by what we say in public; it is tested by how we live in private and how we respond to the people God places in our path. What is hidden in the heart will always reveal itself in how we treat others (1 John 4:20; 1 John 2:9-11; Matthew 15:18-19).
This truth calls every believer to serious self-examination. Do our actions agree with our confession? Is our faith producing patience, humility, forgiveness, and love? The good news is that God does not leave us to struggle in our own strength. Through the Holy Spirit, He changes hearts, softens what was once hard, and teaches us to love in a way that reflects Christ. Where there was once anger, He can produce compassion. Where there was once selfishness, He can form generosity. Where there was once empty profession, He can create living faith (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22-23; Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Beloved, the question before us is not whether we know how to say, “I love God.” The question is whether our lives bear witness that it is true. When the day is over and the words have faded, what remains? Will there be obedience? Will there be mercy? Will there be prayer? Will there be love that reaches beyond comfort and serves the needs of others? God is not calling us to shallow religion, but to wholehearted surrender. So let us lay down pride, bitterness, empty talk, and every hidden thing that contradicts our confession. Let us ask the Lord to search our hearts, fill us with His Spirit, and teach us to love as He first loved us. Then our faith will not merely sound good—it will shine. And our lives will stand as living testimony that the love of God is not just on our lips, but burning in our hearts and flowing through our hands (Psalm 139:23-24; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7; 1 John 4:19).
Key Challenge: Don’t just say you love God—show it this week in the way you forgive, serve, pray, and love the people around you.
Minister A Francine Green I June 2026