Growing in the Love of God

In all of Christian life, few pursuits are as foundational, transformative, and enduring as growing in the love of God. While faith, obedience, knowledge, and service all play essential roles, they find their true meaning and fulfillment ONLY when rooted in the divine love of God. To grow in the love of God is not merely to increase in emotion or outward action only but to deepen in understanding, intimacy, and reflection of His very nature. This growth is a life-long journey, a ever-growing sanctification that reshapes the soul, realigns the will, and redefines one’s purpose. The Scriptures are filled with instruction, encouragement, and exhortation regarding this central aim.

Understanding the Nature of God’s Love

To grow in the love of God, one must first understand what that love is. God’s love is not a fleeting feeling or conditional affection; it is steadfast, sacrificial, and rooted in His character (1 John 4:8). The very essence of God is love, which means that love is not simply something He does; it is WHO He is. His love is eternal (Jeremiah 31:3), redemptive (Romans 5:8), and unchanging (Malachi 3:6). To know God, then, is to encounter a love that is pure, holy, and boundless.

But this love is not only extended toward us; it becomes the standard by which we live. Jesus made this clear when He summarized the entire Law and the Prophets with two commands: love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love one’s neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:37-40). Thus, growing in God’s love is both vertical and horizontal; it deepens our relationship with the Lord and overflows into every earthly relationship. Our love begins vertically with having a relationship with Him through obedience of the gospel, then grows horizontal to our love for others as well.

Growing in God’s Love Through Knowledge

Contrary to modern thought, love and knowledge are not at odds. In fact, Scripture teaches that true godly love is informed by truth (Philippians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 13:6). Emotional fervor without doctrinal foundation is unstable and shallow. Paul’s prayers for the early church often centered around believers growing in their knowledge of God so that their love would be wise and discerning (Colossians 1:9-10; Ephesians 3:17-19).

This knowledge comes through the revealed Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). As one immerses themselves in Scripture, they come to see the breadth and depth of God's redemptive plan, His holy justice, and His compassionate mercy. The more one understands what God has done through Christ, especially the gospel, the more the heart is compelled to love in return (1 John 4:19).

Growing in God’s Love Through Obedience

Biblically speaking, love is not defined primarily by feelings, but by fidelity. Jesus declared, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The more we love God, the more we desire to please Him, not out of fear of punishment, but out of awe and gratitude.

This is why growing in God’s love cannot be separated from a growing pattern of sanctification (1 Peter 1:14-16). Sin dulls our love for God, whereas obedience sharpens it. It aligns our hearts with His will and makes us more sensitive to His presence. Through daily surrender, repentance, and faithfulness, the believer becomes more conformed to the image of Christ, the perfect expression of God’s love (Romans 8:29; John 13:34).

Growing in God’s Love Through Prayer and Worship

One of the most intimate means of growing in the love of God is through fellowship and communication with Him in prayer. Prayer cultivates awareness of God’s nearness and dependence upon His grace (Psalm 63:1-8; Philippians 4:6-7). It is not just a time of petition, but of adoration and thanksgiving. In prayer, we behold the glory of God and our hearts are stirred to love what He loves.

Worship also plays a vital role in expanding our love for God. Whether expressed through singing, meditating on Scripture, or offering ourselves (Rom. 12:1), worship centers our affections on God and lifts us beyond earthly concerns (Psalm 29:2; Hebrews 13:15). The more we treasure and adore[i] Him, the more we reflect His love in our thoughts, words, and actions.

Growing in God’s Love Through Suffering and Trials

Paradoxically, some of the most profound growth in love occurs through hardship. Scripture often links suffering with spiritual maturity and intimacy with God (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). Trials refine our faith, strip away idols, and reveal whether our love for God is rooted in comfort or covenant.

When Job declared, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15), he demonstrated a mature love that was not dependent on favorable circumstances. Likewise, Paul spoke of knowing “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10), recognizing that suffering brought him nearer to the heart of Christ. In the furnace of affliction, the believer’s love for God is purified and made more resilient.

Growing in God’s Love Through Loving Others

No believer can grow in the love of God in isolation. John makes it clear: “He who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). Genuine love for God manifests itself in love for others—especially within the body of Christ (John 13:35; Romans 12:9-10).

This love is not selective or self-serving but sacrificial, patient, and gracious (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). It bears burdens (Galatians 6:2), forgives offenses (Colossians 3:13), and seeks the good of others over self (Philippians 2:3-4). The act of loving others becomes both the evidence and the exercise of divine love within us.

The Goal: Being Filled with the Fullness of God

Ultimately, to grow in the love of God is to become more like Him. It is to be “rooted and grounded in love,” to comprehend “what is the breadth and length and height and depth,” and to “know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge” so that we may be “filled up to all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

This is not a temporary experience but the trajectory of eternal life (John 17:3). The Christian’s destiny is to dwell in God’s love forever, and that journey begins now. As believers press on, they are continually being transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18), shaped more and more by the love that saved them.

Conclusion

Growing in the love of God is not optional, it is essential. It is the very heartbeat of Christian faith and the surest sign of spiritual maturity. This growth is cultivated through knowledge, obedience, prayer, worship, suffering, and love for others. It is a growth that never ends because the love of God is infinite and eternal. May each of us press on to know Him more deeply, love Him more purely, and reflect Him more brightly in a world desperate for divine love.

-Written by the author with input from ChatGPT