Are you in love with Jesus? I don’t know why, but for a long time I didn’t understand that question. I mean, i read the word and i pray, but do i love God?
When I think of my husband. I know without a doubt I love him. How do I know? Because I show him compassion, forgiveness and support. I trust him, i encourage him and i stand by him no matter what. And surely would die for him, no questions asked.
It wasn’t until I learned to love someone, that i could compare what love was to God. I knew I was going to be misunderstood. I knew my old friends would reject me. I knew that it would cause division between me and my loved ones. But I choose to follow Christ because i love him. I had nothing left to offer Him, and he still did more than I could ever repay him for. Not only did He love me enough to die for me, but he also gave me free will to choose if I would love him enough to follow him. Despite everything I have lost, I have gained so much in return.
In John 14:15 Jesus says “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Does that mean that we will be perfect? Absolutely not, but we will try with all our might to live how God wants us to. I was reading in Luke 10:25-28 about An expert in the law who wanted to test Jesus. He says “Teacher, he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the law? he replied. “how do you read it?” He answered “love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied “Do this and you will live.” I always love the parts of the bible where Jesus speaks, because whatever he says, IS and how it should be. So Jesus was telling him that whatever is written in the law should be done. We should love God as we love ourselves. Love him like we love our spouses or children. Our friends and loved ones.
I literally had to ask myself if I loved Jesus. Does my life show that I do? Well I can tell you one thing…every opportunity I have to share about Christ I will. Every chance I have to deny myself to be obedient to God’s word I will. And honestly, if it came down to dying for him, I would. Because honestly I wouldn’t even have this life anymore if God hadn’t wanted it first. I hope that whoever reads this can sit in solitude and ask themselves if they love God. Do your actions show that you do? Do you treat others how God treats you? With love, forgiveness and compassion? Don’t love God with conditions, love God because he loved you first. Love him because he is for us, because he wants us to be more than we are. Love God because He is God, the only living God who died for us. He is worthy of love, because He is love.
Cynthia M. Benavides 