02/12/2021
When we say that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, our love should be more than just the recitation of these words. Loving God requires much more than simple emotion, words, or some superficial faint at faithfulness, it takes bold action, and every ounce of might we can muster to accomplish it. Love is not a proclamation, it is action born from truth. God expects nothing less.
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
1 John 3:18 ESV
When I first saw my wife sitting in the distance she stirred emotion in me, but that was not love. Later, when I was introduced to her for the first time I became enamored with her, but that was not love. Then as I watched her every move I became drawn in a physically lustful way to her, but that was not love either. Finally, with all of these things peaking within me, I found that I would do amazing things just to be near her, that the simple touch of her hand made me weak, and I realized that saying “I love you.” Was no longer frightening to me, nor were these three words hollow, or meant to draw her closer to me. No, love had truly erupted within me, and had consumed my entire being, it drained me physically, mentally, and emotionally... it had moved from being a mere emotion into the physical realm, and I felt a deep pain inside whenever we were apart. That was true love, I knew it, and I also knew I had to spend the rest of my life with her. Do you love anyone like this?
Along with the engagement of our spiritual selves this is how God expects us to love Him... not in words, not in unseen emotion, bodily lust, or cheap talk, but in the overwhelming action of all we do, the deep physical longing of our soul, and of a need to be near Him that brings us pain as it erupts from within us. He wants our love for Him to be irresistible, and like an all-consuming fire. God wants no part of us to be left untouched by our love for Him. Do we love Him, and Jesus Christ like this?
““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV
So let’s ask ourselves today... Is this how we love God? Does it take all our might, to the point of leaving us exhausted?
“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
John 21:17 ESV
Does our love for Jesus Christ draw us to engage in action for Him? Is our love more than three hollow words? Would we pick up our cross to follow Him, go out into the nations for Him, and eventually die a horrible death for Him?
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
Matthew 16:24-26 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving us as you do, and for sending your only begotten Son Jesus Christ to live, suffer, die, and be resurrected for us. Thank you for placing all the sins of the world on Him, and for the love it took to you to do that, and Jesus to offer Himself up for us in this way. Father you have demonstrated that love is more than words or some silent emotion... it is action, and requires us to feel pain. Father give us the strength to love you in this way, and help us to love you as you love us... completely, and unafraid to take action. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who withholds nothing in the expression of your love for us. Praised be your name for the love you have that draws you into action for us, and the obedience in action that you demand of us as we answer your call, and do your will. You are worthy of our love Father, and your mercy and grace are our reward as we love and serve you with all our might. Hear our prayers Lord, and in the event of our separation from you, hear our contrition, and bring us once again into your presence through your forgiveness in Christ. We worship you Father, and long to dine with you in eternity... let our love for you gird us in righteousness, and your love for us be clothed in worthiness, goodness, and grace forevermore.
Rich Forbes