Jesus drew a clear line and I choose to take my stand on one side or the other. (John 14:15)
If you really love Me, you will obey Me. Could anything be clearer?
My attitude to His commands reveals the depths of my relationship with Him.
What was the secret of Paul's indomitable tenacity through many horrible experiences? (2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 2 Corinthians 5:14) The very thought of Christ's great love for him had a continually constraining effect on Paul. He simply had to love the Lord in return and keep on in the ways of obedience, not distracted by difficulty, pain, success or failure.
I see now, it is not what I do for God, but what I do for Him because of sheer love for Him.
As I often have done before, I join that wonderful breakfast meeting on the seashore (John 21:1-25) and eavesdrop on the conversation between Jesus and Peter.
Do I hear Jesus ask, "Are you sorry? Do you promise never to do such a dreadful thing again? Will you try to make amends?" No, I am listening intently and I clearly hear Jesus ask Peter, "Do you love Me?"
Once again I probe I Corinthians 2:9 -- Eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither has entered our hearts, all that God has prepared for: ... those who can point to a stack of great accomplishments??? -- READ IT AGAIN -- those who love Him!!! The most thrilling part of this is the amazing promise (John 14:21-23). The one who obeys Me is the one who really loves Me and whoever really loves Me will be loved by My Father. I too will love him and reveal Myself to him. We will come to him and make Our home with him. The love of my poor heart can mean, To God's beloved Son, Something He nowhere else has seen, And in no other won. And His dear love can be to me My own, my very own; Something that He can only be To me, and me alone. My mind struggles with the truth that the Almighty stoops to ask for my love but my heart rejoices!
Do I truly love Him?I love what F.B.Meyer said and I desire to enter fully into it for my everyday life.
"There is a life in the will of Christ, so quiet, so at peace with God, so at rest in His joy, so perfectly content that He is doing the best, that the lines in the face are smoothed out; the fever is gone from the restless eye; and the whole nature is still. Rest in the Lord. Wait patiently for Him.
Then spend in helping others from your own experience." With love & prayers,
