Do you love the right Jesus or a "different Jesus?"
"We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
"A curse on anyone who doesn't love the Lord..." (1 Cor. 16:22).
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him" (1 Peter 1:8).
"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14).
"You that love the LORD, hate evil" (Psalm 97:10).
Jesus said, "The greatest commandment is to love the Lord, thy God!" Let's explore this:
Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments [obey Me]." (Cf. John 14:21) What was he commanded them to do, but to love one another as He loved them? The purpose Christ left us behind is to fulfill the Great Commission as given in Matt. 28:19-29. That is the sole, and I mean the sole, purpose of the church; this command is not meant for us to do it all on our own, but in conjunction, cooperation, and fellowship with the church as we function in the body as we are gifted. We are all witnesses and have a testimony to the world at large, but are responsible for our own little world, circle of friends, family, or sphere of influence. We can financially support people in the third world if we desire. Remember: He that loves not, knows Him not, for God is love (cf. 1 John 4:8).
We can't just say we love the Lord, we must demonstrate it. If you love the world-system, the love of the Father is not in you, according to 1 John 2:15. This is the litmus test! "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another" [not any other sign or signal such as success or prosperity] (John 13:35). Love is not just the absence of evil, but doing good ("Cease from evil, do good." --Isaiah 1:16-17): we shouldn't be asking who our neighbor is, but "Who can I be a neighbor to?" Note that Jesus raised the bar! We are also to love our enemies, which was unheard of! "...God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 5:5) It is the love of Christ that constrains us and gives us this love (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14).
Many believe that because they love the Lord that it is all right between them and God. They may be sentimental, maudlin, or converted to the program and mistakenly think they have their heart in the right place. We are not saved by loving the Lord; we are saved by (believing on Him) submitting to His lordship and trusting in His person and finished work on the cross ("tetelestai" or "it is finished"). It is a done deal or in Latin, fait accompli. We must all examine our heart to see if Jesus lives in us according to 2 Cor. 13:5, which says precisely that: "Examine yourselves...Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is within you, unless you fail the test?" [Don't oversimplify the faith by believing all there is to it is loving Jesus; however, we eventually fall in love with Jesus as we mature in the faith--some have even left their first love!--he who is forgiven much, loves much, according to Jesus.]
"We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
"A curse on anyone who doesn't love the Lord..." (1 Cor. 16:22).
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him" (1 Peter 1:8).
"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14).
"You that love the LORD, hate evil" (Psalm 97:10).
Jesus said, "The greatest commandment is to love the Lord, thy God!" Let's explore this:
Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments [obey Me]." (Cf. John 14:21) What was he commanded them to do, but to love one another as He loved them? The purpose Christ left us behind is to fulfill the Great Commission as given in Matt. 28:19-29. That is the sole, and I mean the sole, purpose of the church; this command is not meant for us to do it all on our own, but in conjunction, cooperation, and fellowship with the church as we function in the body as we are gifted. We are all witnesses and have a testimony to the world at large, but are responsible for our own little world, circle of friends, family, or sphere of influence. We can financially support people in the third world if we desire. Remember: He that loves not, knows Him not, for God is love (cf. 1 John 4:8).
We can't just say we love the Lord, we must demonstrate it. If you love the world-system, the love of the Father is not in you, according to 1 John 2:15. This is the litmus test! "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another" [not any other sign or signal such as success or prosperity] (John 13:35). Love is not just the absence of evil, but doing good ("Cease from evil, do good." --Isaiah 1:16-17): we shouldn't be asking who our neighbor is, but "Who can I be a neighbor to?" Note that Jesus raised the bar! We are also to love our enemies, which was unheard of! "...God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 5:5) It is the love of Christ that constrains us and gives us this love (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14).
Many believe that because they love the Lord that it is all right between them and God. They may be sentimental, maudlin, or converted to the program and mistakenly think they have their heart in the right place. We are not saved by loving the Lord; we are saved by (believing on Him) submitting to His lordship and trusting in His person and finished work on the cross ("tetelestai" or "it is finished"). It is a done deal or in Latin, fait accompli. We must all examine our heart to see if Jesus lives in us according to 2 Cor. 13:5, which says precisely that: "Examine yourselves...Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is within you, unless you fail the test?" [Don't oversimplify the faith by believing all there is to it is loving Jesus; however, we eventually fall in love with Jesus as we mature in the faith--some have even left their first love!--he who is forgiven much, loves much, according to Jesus.]
The real question is whether we love Him but this must be demonstrated, manifested, and proved by our deeds, not just our talk: show me the fruit! All Christians love the Lord, but some are demonstrative and some are stoic (no showing their feelings), but all will have a feeling! Our whole soul is involved in conversion: heart, mind, and will. Remember what Jesus asked Peter to reinstate him: "Do you love me? [If you do, feed My sheep.]" You must love the Lord, but don't be deceived by mere feelings. Don't merely go by feeling or sentiment! Any so-called believer or nominal Christian is anathema Maranatha [curses until Christ comes] if he doesn't love the Lord, according to Paul in 1 Cor. 16:22.
Don't take it for granted that you love him; ask questions like: Do you love the Word? Do you love your brother? Do you love your enemy? Do you attend church regularly? The three biggest struggles, obstacles, or problem areas for the believer to develop a love for the Lord are in his relationship to these books: the pocketbook, the hymn book, and the Good Book. To keep things in perspective: It is not that we loved Him, but that He loved us! "Herein in love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). Soli Deo Gloria! [To God alone be the glory!]
CAVEAT: SOME WHO PROFESS CHRIST LOVE OUT OF SENTIMENTALITY OR MAUDLIN INCLINATION--AUTHENTIC LOVE ENTAILS OBEDIENCE. Soli Deo Gloria!
Don't take it for granted that you love him; ask questions like: Do you love the Word? Do you love your brother? Do you love your enemy? Do you attend church regularly? The three biggest struggles, obstacles, or problem areas for the believer to develop a love for the Lord are in his relationship to these books: the pocketbook, the hymn book, and the Good Book. To keep things in perspective: It is not that we loved Him, but that He loved us! "Herein in love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). Soli Deo Gloria! [To God alone be the glory!]
CAVEAT: SOME WHO PROFESS CHRIST LOVE OUT OF SENTIMENTALITY OR MAUDLIN INCLINATION--AUTHENTIC LOVE ENTAILS OBEDIENCE. Soli Deo Gloria!