Your Love For God Checkup

Jude 21, “Keep yourselves in the love of God…”, Se also 1 Jn 4:16.  How do you know when you’re doing this?  We know:

Because we love God – 1 Jn 4:19.  The love of God is reciprocal.  Your love for God and the things of God wanes when you don’t keep yourself in the love of God.  Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love (Come Thou Fount).

When you keep yourself in the love of God, your affection is set on things above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, Col 2:1-2.   And you love his words, Ps 119:167, “My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly”.

When you start sensing affection for things of the world… you start waning in your time with the Lord in the Book… you’re drifting from the love of God.  Keep yourselves in the love of God.

Because we love the brethren – 1 Jn 4:11-12.  See also 1 Jn 4:20-21; 3:16.  “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”, Jn 15:13.

Our love for each other is a definite testimony to the world because they have nothing like this.  It is the command of God, Jn 13:34, and the testimony of his disciples, Jn 13:15.  Never stop.  Stay close.  Your love for God is reflected in your love for the brethren.

Because we open up our bowels of compassion – 1 Jn 3:17-18.  As you increase in your love for God, you are not only ready and willing to meet the needs of others, but you also do it.  This motivates our giving for things like missions.  Paul said that by giving you “prove the sincerity of your love”, 2 Cor 8:8.  This can even extend to “all men”, Gal 6:10, not just other Christians.

Because we love the lost – Lk 6:27-28, 35-36.  In Mk 10:21 Jesus loved that rich ruler.  God so loved the world…  There’s something about the love of God for the lost that should dwell inside of us because he does.  As your love for God increases, your love for the lost increases.

You demonstrated your love for the lost today with all of your effort in the buffet and inviting guests.  Don’t be discouraged if they didn’t come.  We’ll have another opportunity.  Just keep on loving them and be available to minister to them.