Do you think I am safe in saying that we have never seen times quite like these? Could you have imagined 6 weeks ago that we would essentially be quarantined in our homes, all nonessential work be suspended, church services be moved into our local homes, and the stock market teetering on collapse?
How are you responding to such times? Some have given up all hope. Have you?
Please know that while we may not know what the future holds, we know Who holds the future. It is in times like these that our faith is tried.
Jesus was asked, “Which is the first commandment of all?” His answer is found in Mark 12:29-30.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
Do I love GOD? Well, of course I do! But do I really love GOD? Regardless of what I say, I wonder how He would answer that question. The 21st chapter of John has a conversation between Jesus and Peter in which the LORD kept asking him the question, “Do you love Me?” Peter would say, “I do”, but the LORD asked him three times.
The Bible has something to say about this idea of loving GOD. In fact, it is quite simple. Our love for GOD is not like the emotional feeling we might have for a spouse or child. The word love, as used in the Scriptures, is an action verb. Read the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians. All of those verbs are action verbs. Our love for GOD is demonstrated in our actions and that is particularly true in times like these. Consider the following Scriptures.
James 1:12 – Blessed is he who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Those who love Him! Here we have our love of GOD measured by the standard of how we endure temptation.
It is easy to talk a good game. But the measure of our love comes down to how we respond in a trial. That is what the verses leading up to verse 12 are all about. That is why James could say to count it all joy when we are faced with trials. These trials give us an opportunity to show our faith and also an opportunity to prove our love of GOD. In these trials, do we trust GOD to be faithful to fulfill His promises toward us? Or do we at these times, wring our hands and worry about what tomorrow may bring?
Do I love GOD? Maybe I need to read John 14:15 before I answer the question.
If you love Me keep My commandments.
Jesus makes a very simple statement. While many in the world today may scoff at the necessity of obedience, Jesus clearly ties our love for Him to obedience. And I would raise this question, how can we be obedient to His commands if we don’t know His commands?
Another passage I’d like to visit is 2 Corinthians 8:8, 24. Paul said he was testing the sincerity of the love of the Corinthians and in verse 24 even said it was proof of their love. What was the proof or the testing to which he referred? In verses 1-7, he is encouraging the Corinthians to give. So another test of our love is giving. It has been said that one can give and not love but you can’t love and not give.
Do I love GOD? Well, do I give as He has given to me? During this time of trials, it is an excellent time to demonstrate our love of GOD by giving to others. We normally associate giving with money but we can give in so many ways. We can demonstrate our love by checking on others and doing what we can to help others.
The last passage I’d like to note is Romans 8:28.
And we know that GOD causes all things to work together for good to those who love GOD…
So do I love GOD? Do I meet the basic tests of the passages above? Do I trust Him in times of trial? Am I obedient? Am I generous with my resources?
If I am one of those who love GOD, do I really believe Romans 8:28? If so, then know that all of this chaos will come to pass and I will be fine.