“Followers of Jesus can expect the earnest love of Jesus to show Himself to them—to know God.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 24, 2021
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. John 14:21
I am learning the more I love God the more I am fulfilled by God. At my invitation His love moves freely in my heart to free my heart of fears and insecurities. Infinite love seeks intimacy with finite me! As I sit here reflecting in the early morning darkness of the day, I am reminded of the Lord’s light of love that leads me in His ways. I can’t see in my own strength, but God’s light of love shines the brightest in my life—as I love and obey. Love reveals Jesus.
Jesus instructs His disciples in how they can know if they truly love the Father, (versus just living for God for what they can get from God). The Lord makes it clear that the evidence of a disciple’s love is knowing, understanding and obeying Christ’s commands. Jesus says, the one who keeps them is the one who loves me. Their loving obedience was an appetizer prior to a more abundant feast—the experience of being loved by their heavenly Father. And there is more, these followers of Jesus can expect the earnest love of Jesus to show Himself to them—to know God.
“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:5-6).
We all struggle from time to time—to find time to be loved. We may push ahead thinking we don’t deserve the love of Jesus, reasoning in our minds, if we punish ourselves—then we’ll earn God’s love. Denying ourselves love is the worst option, since Jesus already took our worst by bearing our rejection and our pain when He sacrificed His life for us on the cross. Our salvation released love to have its way in our sweet surrender. We gratefully obey, knowing we are fully forgiven, fully known—fully loved. We are made complete in Christ’s love—living like Him.
Are you at rest in the love of Jesus, or anxiously striving for something else, only to discover that something or someone only disappoints with inconsistency? Only Christ’s love is consistent. Dependable and beautiful all wrapped up in one grand gift of God. Like explorers on a treasure hunt—you have the map to know and be loved by your heavenly Father—the Bible. But make sure the map is not the object of your affections, instead reserve your ardent love and worship for the Mapmaker. Almighty God high and lifted up, comes down to love you with His perfect love. Only you can let yourself be loved by God—make His love a permanent resident in your heart.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I need to be loved by you, so I can love for you, fill me with your loving presence, through Christ’s love, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
How can I make Christ’s love a permanent resident in my heart?
Related Reading
Deuteronomy 7:13; Matthew 11:25; Romans 12:2; James 4:4
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