And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
– Ephesians 3:19
The gospel of Jesus Christ certainly is good news! To know that there is a Way out of darkness and to everlasting life in Heaven that is free for our taking is the most precious of all gifts we could ever be given!
Someone died for us-
And that someone wasn’t just anyone-
He is the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:7-9)
The Word made flesh that dwelt among us (John 1:14)
The sinless Only Begotten Son of God (1 John 4:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
God died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2)
which includes our own!
That is certainly reason enough for us to follow Him in surrendered humble obedience
That is most assuredly reason enough to believe on Him to the forsaking of all else and all others (ourselves included)
But is that love on our part?
Is it love to believe in someone or follow someone or praise someone or emulate someone or study someone or even proclaim someone?
Isn’t that just the natural byproduct that results when that someone gives us what we need and/or want?
Is that love?
Love shows itself in that way at times, yes, but love is not love if it manifests itself only in response to what is given.
For example-
“I love you because of what you did or can do for me!”
Love is what Jesus displayed towards us when He took our sins upon Himself and willfully died , shedding His innocent blood in order to secure our ability to be reconciled to His Father in Heaven, all the while knowing that many would reject His gift to them; most would give Him nothing in return but hate- despising the offer of His pure and holy love- in favor of their sins!
That is love! And that is the love He deserves in return from us!
Will we do the same for Him?
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. (Mark 8:35)
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
Christ bids us to come and die…
If we love Him we will head His call for We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)
He has given us a Perfect example of what love is; what love looks like; and how love behaves.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)
Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. (Deuteronomy 7:9)
As You Rise 