““I do not accept glory from people, but I know you — that you have no love for God within you…..How can you believe, since you accept glory from one another but don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?” John 5:41-42, 44 CSB

Imagine these words coming from the mouth of the Lord Jesus on that day we see Him? There will be no turning back, no second chance, to live a life pleasing to God in obedience to everything He commanded us. He has commanded that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This definition is undefined but includes dying to self, denying self, and living as Jesus lived while here among us. Loving God most includes loving men less than God. Whose opinion means the most to us? Those in the marketplace, among our neighbors or families? Or God? What pleases God? Obedience to His commands. What does He command? We love Him and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The greatest love we can show our neighbors is to share the gospel so that they live forever with God in paradise rather than suffer forever in torment. Loving our neighbor is seeking and saving the lost, the very purpose Jesus came into the world, making reconciliation with God possible through His death on the cross. We love God when we love people, and we love God most when we spend our greatest resources helping people love God. God’s glory, God’s reward, and God’s praise are the result of His will in the world, and His will is that no one should perish, but all come to everlasting life. We want to hear Jesus say well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master on that day we see Him. This is possible when we love God most and put His will first by loving people into His kingdom.