"What God Values Is Devotion"
   
 
   It was a command in the old covenant to love God with all one's heart
   (Deut. 6:5). But God's real desire is revealed in the new covenant
   where He seeks for fellowship with us not on the basis of commandments
   but our love and devotion to Him. It is only based on this love that
   He expects us to keep the commandments (Jn. 14:15).
   
   God does remember those who fear Him (Mal. 3:16). But He remembers
   with fondness those who are devoted to Him (Jer. 2:2). Even when
   people backslide and forget all that the Lord has done for them, He
   remembers their devotion to Him in the beginning when they followed
   Him through the barren land of opposition and reproach. It is this
   devotion that He expects more than keeping the commandments.
   
   Many find it difficult to keep the new testament command to love one
   another as Jesus has loved us (Jn. 13:34) because they are trying to
   keep it as a commandment without the strength of devotion and
   commitment to Jesus. If we find it a big strain to love the others, or
   we get offended quickly, we must realise that devotion to Jesus is
   what is lacking. This is why Satan keeps trying to lead us astray from
   a simple and pure devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ (2Cor. 11:3).