Do you love the Lord?
The last couple of weeks have been challenging for me. With our church Centennial kickoff, ongoing discussions for a church merger, counseling and visitations and then… the loss of our dear friends Anna Shaw and Lydia Keenan… this, in addition to all of my other duties, has left me feeling tired and exhausted.
So, it should not surprise you, that as I was preparing a memorial service that I reflected soberly upon the words of the Apostle Paul in:
2 Timothy 4:6-8 where he says, For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
As I read these words of Scripture, I could not help but think of the many years of faithful service performed by our two departed sisters, Anna and Lydia. Between them they had nearly 200 years of life experience. And indeed, towards the end of their lives they must have felt completely poured out.. Yet, despite the many trials and tribulations of their lives, they, like Paul, fought the good fight, they finished the race, they kept the faith.
But…
What if they had given up the fight?
What if they had given up the race?
What if they had given up the faith?
How did they do it? How were they able to walk with Christ for nearly a century?
The Apostle Paul gives us a clue in verse eight of the above Scripture when he says…
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
In so many words, the Apostle Paul tells us the secret to obtaining the crown of victory in Christ… And the Secret is…we must love Him. He says that the crown of righteousness is laid up for ALL who have loved His appearing.
Do you love the Lord?
In the 21st chapter of the Gospel of John we are given an account of a conversation had with Simon Peter sometime after he had denied the Lord.
John 21:15-17
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Three times the Lord asked Simon Peter if he loved him, and three times Peter said, I love you. And in response the Lord gave Peter a commandment… feed my sheep, take care of my sheep.
Do you love the Lord?
In John 14:15 Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
You might notice, Jesus did not say, "If you love Me you can, or should, or might, keep My commandments. He said if you love Me, you WILL keep My commandments.
For some people the word "love" is something that is easily spoken but scarcely observed. For some the word "love" seems to roll off their tongue in every other sentence… but there is no behavior to back up the word.
I want to convey this morning that love is not just a word… it is a description of activity. In 1 John 3:18 the Apostle John tells us, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
So without the action behind the word there is no truth to our claim that we love something. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." The action that is the evidence of our love for Jesus is our obedience in living out his commandments to us.
To help clarify this for us Jesus tells us in John 14:24, He who does not love me will not obey my teaching."
Of course, Jesus taught us many things, some of which seem very hard to do, like turning the other cheek, or if our eye offends us cut it out, or to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and our neighbor as ourself. Or… not to serve two masters.
So, sometimes we compromise. Sometimes we take the easier softer path. Instead of being obedient to Christ we serve our own selfish desires or interests. In the Old Testament the law commands a ten percent tithe, but few people do that today… they claim it is the law of the Old Covenant. But, they fail to mention how the disciples laid all their worldly belongings at the feet of the Apostles when they decided to follow Christ.
So, I ask you again, do you love the Lord?
And how many of us tithe ten percent?
Or, how many of us are willing to sell everything we have and follow the Master?
We are so worried about our material comfort. We say that we love the Lord and that we will do anything for the Lord… but, BUT…
You know what the word BUT means… "disregard everything I just said."
Yet, whether it is money or time or activities or actions Jesus says to us,
"If you love Me, keep my commandments."
In other words, the proof is in the pudding.
In 1 John 2:4-6 the Apostle tells us, "4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
When we love Christ, we become more and more like Christ. Regardless of the trials and tribulation in our life, no matter who, no matter what, we walk a life that reflects the life of our Lord. And why do we do this? For the love of God, in Christ.
James tells us in James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
The crown is not promised to just those who say they love him, but to those who persevere under trial… those who stand the test, those who provide the evidence of their love… they shall receive the crown.
The Apostle John tells us in 1 John 5:3-4 "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."
So, don't give up. Stay the course. Keep on keeping on. Love Him. Follow Him. And always, always keep the faith... for the love of God.
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