Have you ever been in love?
Do you remember how when you first fell in love you wanted to do all kinds of things for that person? Maybe you helped them with a task, or gave them presents. Perhaps you spent a lot of money on them taking them out to eat. You were so wrapped up in them that you’d have done nearly anything for them.
Do you feel that way about Jesus?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matthew 22:37
Looking back to the Greek, what is expressed here is to love with all your heart is to love with all your feelings and thoughts. To love with all your soul is to love with all your breath or spirit. To love with all your mind is to love with deep thought or understanding.
I would venture to say we do not love most folks nearly that much. We typically do not love them in that way either.
Paul also writes:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
3 things are expressed in this verse: offering, obedience, and obligation.
The offering is seen in “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Paul has died to self. He has put all his wants and desires aside. He lives, but he has chosen to let Christ live in him and through him. He has given himself over to Jesus completely.
The obedience is seen in “and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God.” He is totally surrendered and walking in obedience and by faith.
The obligation is seen in the phrase “who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Paul is obligated to live for Jesus and to let Jesus live through him because of the sacrifice Jesus made for him in his crucifixion.
Paul was no doubt obligated as we are obligated. He acknowledged and recognized that fact. For Paul to be able to so completely give himself to Jesus in the things he went through – jailing and beating – for as long as he did, Paul had to be acting out of pure love for Jesus.
Jesus was real to Paul and someone that Paul really, really loved.
Are you that in love with Jesus? Is he real to you? Or, is Jesus just a story?
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 8:42
Today’s challenge is to fall in love with Jesus. Although we are obligated, move your focus to love. Serve and obey because you love Him, not because you feel you must. Be a cheerful giver and fully give of yourself in all that you do for Him.