On Love for God
January 22
(Commemoration of the Venerable Martyr Anastasios the Persian)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
January 22
(Commemoration of the Venerable Martyr Anastasios the Persian)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
Strong, fervent, and wondrous was the love for God among the true servants of God. Thus the Apostle Paul desires to depart and be with Christ. The Venerable Martyr Anastasios the Persian, having passed through every path that leads to virtue, was finally inflamed with such love for God that he asked Him to help him end his life in blood and in sufferings. And of all the saints one may say, as if in their own words: "Who shall separate us from the love of God: tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: For Your sake we are killed all the day long" (Rom. 8:35–36).
Such was the love for God among God’s saints, and by it they left us a beautiful example for imitation. For we too must love God as they did. We too must strive toward Him with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind. Therefore we must all learn from the saints how we ought to love God and in what true love for Him consists.
In what, then, should it consist?
First, in this: that we show our love for God not only in words, but also in deeds. Such love is what God desires from us. The Savior says: "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me" (John 14:21). "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word" (John 14:23). And this is understandable. What kind of love would it be if I said that I love God, but myself do the works of the devil? What kind of love would it be if I said that I love God, but leave the poor without alms, the sorrowful without consolation, and do not wipe away the tears of widows and orphans? What kind of love would it be if I said that I love God, but hate my brother? (1 John 4:20).
Therefore, "let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
Second, love for God must occupy first place in our heart and be higher for us than any other love. The Lord said: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind; this is the first and greatest commandment" (Matt. 22:37–38). And again: "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matt. 10:37). Thus we must love God above all else, and this is clear and understandable. He has given us life, gives us food, clothing, and shelter; He sent His Only-begotten Son to save us from punishment for our sins; He has given us Guardian Angels; He has given us saving Mysteries; He provides for all and protects all; with Him every hair on our head is numbered; He has prepared the Kingdom of Heaven for all the righteous and even calls sinners there. "Come to Me," He says, "all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Whom, then, after all this, should we love more than our Lord — our Father, Provider, and Savior? "I will love You, O Lord, my strength: the Lord is my firm foundation and my refuge, and my deliverer; my God, my helper, in whom I trust" (Ps. 17:1–2).
From all that has been said, you, of course, brethren, must be convinced that love for God should consist in loving God not in word, but in deed, and in loving Him above all else. So let us love Him in this way. Out of love for Him let us keep His commandments, remembering that it is not the hearers, but the doers of the law who shall be justified. Let us constantly strive toward Him with mind and heart, bless Him for His benefactions, glorify Him for His mercies, praise Him for His goodness and compassion. And finally, let us draw near to Him by faith, be lifted up on wings of hope in Him, and embrace Him with our love. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
