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Do You Really Love Jesus?
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Mar 16, 2014 (message contributor)
Summary: Eamaining our love for Jeus Christ
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Do You Really Love Jesus?
John 14:15
I would like to begin with a question…. “Do You Love Jesus”??? I am not surprised that you would say yes. But I want to go a bit farther and really examine this subject:
1. Does your life show that you love Jesus?
2. Do your actions prove your love for Jesus?
3. Are the choices that you make based on your love for Jesus?
4. Would others testify of your love for Jesus?
When at the funeral home I tend to listen to what is being said about the deceased. Here are some of the descriptions people will use about their loved ones:
o “Boy, He sure loved the Crimson Tide”
o “His passion was fishing & hunting”
o “She sure loved to cook”
o He was dedicated to his career"
o “He was a good man”… “she was a good woman”
o “Shopping was her life”
o “He was a great friend”
o “She sure loved her church”
When I die it is not my goal for people to say “He was a good preacher or a loving Father” Now those things are nice but ultimately I want people to say “that ol boy right there …HE SURE LOVED JESUS”!!! What about you? When you are not around, do people say “He/she sure loves the Lord”? Better yet what does the Lord have to say about your love for Him?I submit to you that the Word of God says that many of you don’t love Him at all!
Throughout His Word God confronts His people and addresses their inconsistent actions toward Him. - Malachi 1:6 The Lord says…“A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’7 “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. “Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices? ’ “You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect.8 When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says The Lord of hosts”
o If you were as devoted to your job as you are to Jesus would you still be employed?
o If you were as faithful to your wife/husband as you are to Jesus would you still be married?
o If you paid your bills like you pay your tithes would you have food, a vehicle or a home?
o If you were as obedient to the secular law as you are to God’s commands would you be free or behind bars?
I want to consider these things for a little while and ask the question “Do You Really Love Jesus”? Understand this: Jesus will not be persuaded by your words alone. He can see directly into your heart. Jesus has prophesied that the disciples would be scattered, but Peter professed (WITH HIS MOUTH) that he would never leave Jesus - Mark 14:29 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”30 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
You may fool your friends.
You may fool your family.
You may fool your spouse.
You may even fool yourself …..But, you can’t fool Jesus.
HE KNOWS YOUR HEART!!! …So again I ask, “Do You Really Love Jesus”? Let’s look at:
I. The Evidence Of Your Love For Jesus - John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Notice that Jesus begins this statement with “IF” Jesus knew everybody that He was addressing didn’t love him. One of His own disciples is preparing to betray him for 30 pieces of silver.If you “Really Do Love Jesus” there will be evidence! Jesus makes it very clear what the evidence of love for Him will be…..OBEDIENCE!! Do you live a life in complete obedience to Jesus Christ? Can a lost man see what it is to be Christian by watching your daily life?
There are too many “pew warmers” want to live life their way and too few CHRISTIANS! People who want to do what they want to do, when they want to do it! They are not one bit concerned with what God desires or commands. You cannot love God & embrace evil …IT WILL NEVER WORK!! - 1 John 2:3 and we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in Christ - Here, John reveals that if obedience is not in your heart you are not saved. This doesn’t mean that Christians will not fail but there will be OBEDIENCE in the heart of those who TRULY LOVE THE LORD! Anyone can say they love God, but the proof is in obeying God.