Do You Love Jesus?
One spring day while I was walking home through the park, a lady walked over to me and asked me if I loved Jesus. She handed me a gospel tract. I told her I did (though I knew it was a lie) because I knew I was “supposed” to say that I loved him. I was not only a good Catholic, but in the current “Jesus Freak” movement of the 1970s, I was experiencing a lot of pressure through media (television, cassette tape gospel messages provided by my loving aunt) to become this born-again, Jesus-loving person. I wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible. Looking back, I am sure this God-loving, sincere lady would have preferred an honest answer from me. Either way, the gospel tract ended up in my possession, and I kept it because I was too afraid to throw it out…and it haunted me for weeks and weeks and weeks. I was a senior in high school.
I eventually read that tract. I can’t remember exactly what it said. However, the message that I was a sinner and that I needed God’s forgiveness was the main point. And, by God’s grace, I got it - and sought His forgiveness through Jesus. That was over four decades ago. Recalling my baby Christian steps of being a new believer and then my journeys through many waters, mistakes, trials, joys, and blessings, the same question asked by that dear lady is still relevant. Do I love Jesus?
A few decades ago, when I was going through an extreme trial, a pastor encouraged me to meditate often on God’s love for me, instead of me trying to figure out my love for Him. That sage advice was the beginning of an invaluable paradigm shift in my thinking. And continues to this day. Afterall, we love Him because He first loved us. There is nothing better to stir up our love for God, than to meditate on His amazing love for us. The Scriptures are steeped in expressions of His love and faithfulness to His children. Sometimes when I have had a particularly challenging day with my own sin issues and get discouraged (I mean, how can a Christian even behave/think this way?), I dare myself to recall God’s amazing and steadfast and forgiving love for me. His grace and love are then even more amazing, and frankly, unbelievable – in the very best sense - to me (Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.)!
Do I love Jesus? When I think of being clothed with the earned righteousness (my own righteousnesses are as filthy rags) of this Second Adam, Whose perfect obedience to the law is imputed onto me, when I think of my sins being imputed onto Him (He who knew no sin became sin for me.), when I think of the Father being satisfied with the sacrifice of His Son for all my sins, when I think of God’s promise to never leave nor forsake His blood-bought children, when I think of the resurrection and ascension of Christ to the home prepared for me in heaven, and that someday I will praise my Savior unhindered, when I think of the Holy Spirit Who lives in me, and Who makes me willing and able to walk in faith and obedience in this pilgrimage, when I think of the many other bright gospel pearls strung on the golden chain of salvation, yes, I can say that I love Jesus.
Dear homeschooling families and students, do you love Jesus? This IS an important question. The blessed path to your answer is found in God’s word. Daily read this Book from God. In its inspired pages, we learn of ourselves and of God’s great saving grace and mercy. And we see Jesus - His living and dying love for His children.
Mary Brown
Photo by Tiffany Anthony on Unsplash