Would you agree that when we love someone, we want to please them? I know when I was a kid, it killed me to disappoint my parents. When I taught, I didn’t want the kids to behave out of fear of punishment but because they respected me and understood that the rules in our classroom were for their good. God is so much wiser than any earthly parent or teacher. He sent His Son, Jesus, to be our example, and if we say we love God, then we’ll show it in the way we live our lives. Not out of fear of punishment but out of respect and recognition that He truly does know best. I have never regretted a decision made within the boundaries of God’s instruction, but I’ve certainly rued some that went against His teaching. Loving Him and keeping His commandments go hand in hand. If we say we love Him, our actions and attitudes will reflect His goodness, decency, and grace.
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