When I want to understand my relationship with God, forged by covenant, my go-to article is by President Nelson. A key point revolves around the Hebrew word, hesed. This week, this paragraph stood out to me,
Hesed is a special kind of love and mercy that God feels for and extends to those who have made a covenant with Him. And we reciprocate with hesed for Him.
The Everlasting Covenant by President Russell M. Nelson, Liahona, October 2022.
Wait, I can reciprocate hesed (loving kindness) to God?
In other words, hesed isn’t just Heavenly Father’s role in the covenant relationship? He truly wants my love?
How, then, can I show that love?
in gratitude for God’s merciful love (hesed), we show our loyal love (emunah) by keeping His commandments.
Faith: A Bond of Trust and Loyalty by Elder Sandino Roman
So, keeping commandments is the way I show loving kindness/devotion to God. That seems obvious, now that I write it.
Elder Roman used a different Hebrew word, emunah, rather than hesed, to describe our role in the covenant relationship. What does the word, emunah mean?
The short answer is faith, but like all Hebrew words, it is rich in meaning.
So, I am to practice, hone, and create a lifestyle of action to show my love for God.
By doing, I come to know God. This is how I build a loving relationship with Him.
The process isn’t, “know then do.” The process is “do in order to know.” This is faith. This is love.
And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Exodus 24:7
15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15
So, I can show love for God through obedience, crafting a life of faithful action.
If all of this is true, a key question is, What is the most important faithful/loving/obedient act that I can do right now?
Maybe it is to apologize to someone.
Or, it could be to share my faith with others.
Perhaps it is to praise God more and whine less.
It’s often going to be temple work.
Always, it is to acknowledge that the Savior makes a relationship with God possible.
Whatever the Spirit inspires us to do to show love for Heavenly Father today, may we do it and find rest in Him.