Expressing Our Love to God

In two days, we will celebrate “Father’s Day.” A time when we honor our fathers and let them know we love, esteem, and appreciate them and their contribution to the family.

According to my Google research, Father's Day originated in the United States, with the first statewide celebration held on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. Sonora Smart Dodd proposed it to honor her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children as a single parent. While celebrated on different dates globally, the third Sunday in June is the most common, used by over seventy countries including the US, UK, Canada, India, and parts of Latin America.

If honoring earthly fathers is important, how much more should we love and honor our heavenly Father?

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment of all, He immediately replied, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.”  Matthew 22:37

This verse would be a great daily meditation over the next few days and weeks because everything else we do hinges on our loyalty and obedience to that command.

Certain individuals struggle with loving the Father because of a poor relationship with their earthly father, who is (or was) imperfect and flawed. When they hear about loving God, they often see Him through the lens of that inconsistent parent. If their earthly father was abusive, they see God as abusive, maybe not consciously, but somewhere in the back of their mind. If their earthly father was distant or emotionally detached, they often transfer those same feelings to their relationship with the Father.

It matters how we perceive the Father. It matters if we love Him with all our being or are just going through the motions. If we have never consciously made the decision to know and love God, we are missing the greatest relationship we will ever have.

Jesus did not come to earth to bring us a religion (where we must work to be accepted); He came to earth as the supreme sacrifice for our sins so we (by the Father’s freely bestowed grace) could become part of the family of God. Yes, family… not religion. He died and rose again so we could become sons and daughters of the Most High God. Utterly amazing!

Of course, every family has their own guidelines and boundaries and so does the Father, that is why we have the scriptures to guide us as how we should behave as His children, not behave to become His children. This is a huge difference!

When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb on resurrection Sunday, she encountered Jesus and worshipped Him. As she marveled, He said unto her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” John 20:17 

All throughout the history the Father has longed to have a nation of people who would love and honor Him.

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16 

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Revelation 21:3 

How can we express our love to the Father? Love is intangible but is expressed in tangible ways. When we say we love someone, we demonstrate it through our words and actions. The same is true about loving the Father and the Lord Jesus.

Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, Mary Magdalene expressed her love to the Lord when she anointed His feet with costly ointment. This act reflected what was already in her heart. She saw Him for who He was and honored Him by lavishing a costly ointment upon His feet.

Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 

This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."  John 12:1-8

Notice he contrast between Mary and Judas. She was willing to pour out costly ointment on the feet of Jesus, while Judas complained that this action was a waste. She did what she could to express her love to the Lord, while Judas only thought of himself and his selfish greed.

When we examine our lives, which of these two do we most resemble? Are we pouring our love upon the Father and the Lord? Are we willingly giving of ourselves to the Father and His Kingdom? No one forced Mary to honor Jesus like she did, but her heart was full of love and gratitude because she recognized Him for who He was and not just for what He could do for her.

When we truly know the Father, our natural response will be to love Him increasingly more. As we keep His word and do the things that please Him, we are demonstrating our love for Him. However, if we withhold our worship, our possessions, our attention, and our hearts from Him we are demonstrating how little we love and honor Him.

Spend time with the Father. Tell Him how you love and appreciate Him, and His Son Jesus Christ.

If your love has become lukewarm (Revelation 3:14-22), ask Him to renew it and give you a greater understanding of His gracious invitation to be His child and to partake His divine nature and Kingdom. If your relationship has become stiff and religious, ask the Father to show you how to improve your fellowship with Him in a sincere and loving relationship.

Things we can do to grow in our love for the Father.

1.   Surrender our life to Him. This is a commitment but must be reinforced daily.

2.   Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Worship has a connotation of leaning forward (or prostrate) to reverently kiss the hand, feet, or face of someone superior.

3.     Pray. Talk to Him about everything. Seek His wisdom and counsel. Thank Him for the trivial things He allows you to enjoy and His abundant blessings. Invite Him to be involved in the details of your life.

4.   Obey His Word. Read the Bible, meditate upon it, and commit your life to obeying it.

5.   Give to support His Kingdom and work on earth. Our checkbooks often reflect what we genuinely love and treasure the most.

6.   Love others, which is the second great commandment.

7.   Be honest before the Father. Confess your fears, doubts, worries, and shortcomings. Then ask for grace to live a life pleasing to Him.

Is your relationship with the Father only based on what He can do for you, or are you in love with Him because of who He is? Let us adjust our hearts to fulfill the royal commandment of loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Until next time, may God our Heavenly Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you.

James Brown CST 06/20/2026