“You whom I love” (Song of Solomon 1:7)
It’s a great thing, to be able to say to Jesus, without any qualifiers, “You, whom I love”. Most church-goers can only say of Jesus, that they trust Him, or they rely on Him, or hope they love Him enough. This lack of emotion is not enough to sustain them when trials come, and anyone who doesn’t have a desire to get closer to Christ should examine himself, whether he’s really saved (2 Corinthians 13:5)..

Don’t give rest to your spirit till you have the confidence that you love Christ more than your own life (Luke 14:26). The saints in the Bible knew whom they loved with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Mark 12:30). Knowing you love Christ unconditionally is connected to your hope of Heaven. Can you honestly say with the Apostle Paul, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12)? According to Christ, on that Great Day, many will hear Christ say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23).

The love of Christ is a vital evidence of His presence within you. If you’re saved, “you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). True love to Christ is the Holy Spirit's work, and must be wrought in the heart by Him. “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).

Apart from these considerations, there are many practical reasons to love God. If you’re saved, these reasons should resonate with your heart. 1) He loved you when you were a sinner. 2) He gave you eternal life through His death, and gives you righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit right now. 3) He fills you with a sense of His loveliness, so you can honestly say, “Yes, He is altogether lovely” (Song of Solomon 5:16).