“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Christ told His disciples, “as the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:9-11). Notice, it’s impossible to retain a sense of God’s pardoning love, without continuing in the obedience of faith. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

”Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:3-6).

Hopefully, you’ve had times of refreshing from His presence, and leaned your head on His chest, overwhelmed by His love. But most of the time, the special revelation of God’s love comes in fellowship with the saints. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren … My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him” (1 John 3:14-19).

Your loving the saints is intimately tied to your love for God. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar … he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).