Some people know the word of God but not the heart of God.

I was thinking the other day how that would be a good phrase to just put on Facebook and leave for contemplation. Eh, not my style. It is great to know God’s word. It tells us of God’s nature and our nature. It tells us how we have separated ourselves from a holy God by our sin but how a holy God is also merciful and in His love has offered us forgiveness and redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. His word instructs us on all these things and tells us how we can live with Him for eternity and how we should live for Him now.

We are to reflect God’s heart of God and His love should be present in all of our interactions. The Bible says in 1 John 4:20 “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

Yes, God’s word tells us to walk in love. Period. No need to try and qualify it. We are to walk in love when we minister, when we work and when we play; whenever we do anything. Walking in love does not mean we have to walk in compromise; it simply means we walk in kindness and compassion even when we disagree. “By this will all men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”

We can do our best to follow God’s word and do many things in His name but Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13 if we don’t have love “it profits nothing.” And there are things that God has for all of us to do. There are callings He has placed on our lives no matter what our different vocations may be. There is a manner in which He desires for us to live. And certainly He wants us to know His word and live by His word to the best of our ability. And most certainly He wants us to walk in love because that reflects His heart. It just seems to me that knowing His word and knowing His heart should always go hand in hand.