“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
I have loved the message of that song ever since I was a child. In a world that seems so cold and oftentimes even hostile to our soul, it’s a comfort to know that the God who gave me life, truly does love me, and He truly loves you too!
The Word of God is full of this amazing truth. God has shown toward us loving kindness and tender mercies. (Psalm 103:4). There is conclusive evidence in the story of Jesus, who loved us so much that He left Heaven to be the sacrifice that would purchase our pardon, and our peace with God. If you need a reminder of how very much He loves you, read these beautiful verses, Psalm 139:1-18, John 3:16-17, 15:13-15, Ephesians 2:4-8, and I John 3:16, 4:9-10, 19, “We love Him, because He first loved us.”
Jesus Christ is our preeminent teacher and greatest example of what true love really means. Because Jesus Christ has loved us, and given Himself for us, that we might be saved, we should reply with love for Him; our deepest, truest, most faithful love. We should respond to the point of entering and abiding in Him; to the degree of being one with Him. Rather than pledging our allegiance to Him, it’s more like falling in love with Him. As my pastor likes to say, “racing heart, sweaty palms, butterflies in our tummy, head over heals in love with Jesus.” We should fall so deeply and completely in love with our Lord, that we can never climb out. After all, He is worthy of our greatest love.
This life is full of distractions, and we being so very human are easily derailed. How do we abide in Christ? How do we have victory over this world to remain true to our Beloved One? As with any good relationship, it will take much of our attention. It will take lots of time shared together, and plenty of communion between us and our Lord. Jesus makes it clear in Revelation 2:4-5, that we are to keep Him as our “First Love.” In other words, we should hold Him as our love above any and all other loves. Yes, husbands should love their wives, and wives should love their husbands. We should love our children. We should even love our enemies; but with all the love Christ has taught us to have for others, He should be our greatest love. We should always love Him more.
There’s a song I like, by Pat Barrett, named “Better.” Here’s some of the lyrics, “All the money that the world could hold, mountains made of solid gold, riches that could buy my dreams, You are better than all these things. The prettiest face to turn their eyes, beauty that could hypnotize, the open doors that looks may bring, You are better than all these things… and the chorus, Your love is better than life. You are the Well that won’t run dry. I have tasted and I have seen, You are better than all these things.”
To keep our spiritual affection for Christ from falling away, or being choked off, we must keep fresh in the forefront of our minds, “Jesus is better.” When this flesh we live in is tempted to sin, hold this to be true, “Jesus is better.” With us abiding in Him, and He dwelling within us, we can and will overcome any other competing temptation, desire or love. Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart. If we delight ourselves in Him, He becomes the desire of our heart! He alone, our “First Love,” our greatest treasure, our most fervent passion, our soul mate.
Colossians 2:6-7,10 tells us, “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye (your daily walk of life) in Him. Rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith”… And you are complete in Him.” Do you want to be complete, whole? Only in Him can you be. Not in self, not in the flesh, not in the world: only in Christ will you be complete. For fullness of joy and abundant life, be one with Him. Jesus wants our heart. Every other part of us will follow.
Our outward behavior is the evidence of what God has done, and continues to do within our heart. We are His home. Please read all of II Cor. 6:14-7:1, “…for ye are the temple of the Living God…” And I Cor. 6:13-20…”You are bought with a price (Christ’s sacrifice): therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Our Creator and Re-Creator is sanctifying us (setting us apart exclusively unto Himself): and, Jesus Christ makes all the difference in those who receive Him. Look at Acts 4:13, “…they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” When you spend time with the Lord, it’s going to show. People will see the difference Christ makes in you. His beautiful light radiating through you, and the power of His love changing the world around you.
I John 5:20-21, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” All other loves are idols; false gods that can never satisfy or fulfill your hungry soul. Christ alone can complete you! Place Him as the “First Love” of your live, and be eternally blessed in Him. I Peter 5:14, “Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
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