"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world." 1 John 5:3
How many ways has love been redefined and watered down by the world to accommodate or justify our sinful or self-serving actions? The majority of divorces that occur in this country are not a result of some irreconcilable act or broken trust in a marriage. They result from one or both spouses simply declaring that they are no longer “in love” with each other, as if “love” were ever meant to be based on our ever shifting emotions. If we are diluting and distorting the definition of love when it comes to human relationships, how much more are we capable of using the same twisted logic when it comes to choosing to love Christ?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 clearly maps out a clear definition of love based upon action, not feelings. Eliza puts Freddy in his place in the musical, My Fair Lady, when she exhorts, “Don't talk of stars burning above; if you're in love, show me!”. We must show love to Christ. Love is a verb and requires us to “do” something, not just once, but consistently and often. Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush when defining love for Him. In Matthew 7:26, Jesus clearly states, “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” In John 14:23, Jesus through simple and clear instruction declares, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
How many ways has love been redefined and watered down by the world to accommodate or justify our sinful or self-serving actions? The majority of divorces that occur in this country are not a result of some irreconcilable act or broken trust in a marriage. They result from one or both spouses simply declaring that they are no longer “in love” with each other, as if “love” were ever meant to be based on our ever shifting emotions. If we are diluting and distorting the definition of love when it comes to human relationships, how much more are we capable of using the same twisted logic when it comes to choosing to love Christ?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 clearly maps out a clear definition of love based upon action, not feelings. Eliza puts Freddy in his place in the musical, My Fair Lady, when she exhorts, “Don't talk of stars burning above; if you're in love, show me!”. We must show love to Christ. Love is a verb and requires us to “do” something, not just once, but consistently and often. Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush when defining love for Him. In Matthew 7:26, Jesus clearly states, “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” In John 14:23, Jesus through simple and clear instruction declares, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
If we can return to the pure and true definition of love for Christ, not just hear the Word, but take the time to understand it, retain it, and put it into practice, we will discover that “his commands are not burdensome”, and we will truly experience that ever eluding "joy" that the world fails to deliver on time and time again.
1 John 5:4 states that, “everyone born of God overcomes the world". The real and honest question that we must ask ourselves is, “Do we want to?” Do we really want to allow God to pry the white knuckles of our will from the worlds grip, die to self, take on the identity of Christ and truly love God and others with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength? What's the alternative....a self-focused, miss guided, train wreck of a life? No thanks.
1 John 5:4 states that, “everyone born of God overcomes the world". The real and honest question that we must ask ourselves is, “Do we want to?” Do we really want to allow God to pry the white knuckles of our will from the worlds grip, die to self, take on the identity of Christ and truly love God and others with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength? What's the alternative....a self-focused, miss guided, train wreck of a life? No thanks.
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