Do You Really Love Him?

Daily Bread

Daily Bread Devotions by Chuck Myer Daily Bread Archive | Sign up for our resources

It is a most proper question, “Do you really love Jesus?” Note an oft quoted verse from the gospel of John,

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21 – NASB)

There is a great deal of emotional piety around today, and the church is not immune to it. For instance, in the church of our day songs are sung proclaiming how much we love Jesus. People get caught up in them, waving their hands, swaying to and fro, as they are led to repeat musical stanzas over and over again; “Oh how I love Jesus.” It is a fact that there is very little doctrinal affirmation, as was so evident in the hymns of days past, in our music programs of today. Repetition meant to cater to the emotions is a very familiar scene in our current day worship services. I believe the intent is good, the attempt being made to get Christians to attain to some type of state wherein one’s love for the Lord is affirmed. All too often though, I’m afraid that the endeavor ends up being bent more toward the worshipper than the One who is to receive the worship.

That said, according to our text loving Jesus entails a lot more than just singing some praise songs that lift us to a state of proclaiming words of affection toward Him. We may show our love by what we sing but there is a more prominent call from Christ to make our “love” for Him evident by also “keep(ing( . . . (His) commandments.” The Christian who loves the Lord has His “commandments,” which are in His Word, and he or she “keeps them.”

This word “keep” means, “obey, observe, guard, being vigilant in watching over” (Zodhiates). Jesus says to us,

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word . . . If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” (John 14:23; 15:10 – NASB)

Walking to the beat of His “word,” His “commandments,” knowing them, guarding them, keeping vigilant watch over them, espousing them, defending them . . . . ah yes, the one who does this, . . . . . . they love Jesus!

Dr. Henry Morris writes, “May God help each one of us to demonstrate our love for Christ by guarding and obeying His word. We then can know, personally, the wonderful promise” of John 14:21,