EPHESIANS 6:24 – Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying, sincere, and incorruptible love.
THEME OF THE DAY. A SINCERE LOVE FOR JESUS CHRIST. Of all the amazing things that happen to a person who becomes a Christian, the greatest one is God’s work of pouring His love into us. The Apostle Paul tells us at new birth, God “pours His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). This love is multifaceted in its application. First, it is us knowing and experiencing God’s love. Then it is enabling us to love people, all people, yes, even difficult people who rub us wrong. Finally, this love provides us with the most wonderful ability known to any human being; the ability to love God. There is something else to take away from this verse. It is a great source of personal assurance of salvation. Here’s how. Ask ourselves three questions; “Are we experiencing the love of God as evidenced by our understanding, relying, obeying, and delighting in His Word?” Only Christians can do those four things. Next, “Do we love people as those created in the image of God?” Only Christians are able to see beyond the sinfulness of people and love them as God’s creations. Finally, “Do we love God?” and this shows up in our lives by desires to be like Him, serve Him, and be with Him. But the Christian who is experiencing the love of God will notice something else in their lives which burdens them, even makes them sad. It is just how much we fail in loving God. We know He deserves our perfect love, loyal love, unwavering love, and unrivaled love. Yet, due to our remaining sinfulness manifested in our selfishness and lack of spiritual discipline, we cannot give Him perfect love, loyal love, unwavering love, and unrivaled love in this life. We will someday, but that day is not today. However, there is a love we can give Him in this life and that with daily consistency. The Apostle Paul identifies it in today’s scripture. We can give God sincere love. And here are three marks of sincere love for God that even us sinning Christians may experience and live before Him. They come from the prayer of our Lord Jesus in John 17.
First, sincere love for Christ lives for the glory of God – “Father, I glorified you on earth” (John 17:4a). A sincere love for Christ sees every activity, every event, every relationship, and every investment of time as opportunities to glorify God. This is the one consuming desire in the sincere lover of Christ and is the lens all of life is seen through.
Next, sincere love for Christ strives for obedience to God’s commands – “Father, I have accomplished the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4b). Jesus told us the acid test, the only test verifying our love for Him is obedience – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Like our love for the Lord is imperfect, so will be our obedience, but imperfect does not mean insincere.
A third mark of sincere love for Christ is a desire for likeness to Him or personal holiness – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). Jesus prays that His people would be “set apart for God’s purposes” and the chief purpose is likeness to Him. Where a sincere love for Jesus is present, a diligent pursuit of being like Him is also present.
Yes, someday we will love our Lord perfectly without sin. In the meantime, we can love Him sincerely. He has provided that ability through new birth.
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for giving me the privilege to love You, Your Son, and Your Spirit.”
QUOTE: “Our love for the Lord cannot be perfect in this life but it can be sincere in this life”