I watched a documentary on the internet about Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and their courtship and failed marriage. When they announced their engagement, they were interviewed by a television news reporter. The reporter asked them “Are you both in love with each other?” Immediately, Diana replied with smile, “Of course!”. However, Charles kind of rolled his eyes a little and then said, “Sure…whatever in love means.” It was obvious that he was never really in love with her, and that was what sent their marriage on the downward spiral that eventually ended in divorce.
So many people in today’s world are the same way with Jesus Christ. They claim “I love Jesus”, however – one can clearly tell by the way they live their lives that they don’t even know what it means to love Him. And they end up confused and wondering why their relationship with Jesus Christ never goes anywhere.
Jesus was very clear multiple times throughout the gospels of what it means to love Him.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)
“Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'” (John 14:23)
“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:10)
The Apostle John added:
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)
“And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” (2 John 1:6)
It puzzles me how many people can claim to love Him, and yet feel no desire to follow Him and obey Him completely. John wrote, “Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4)
I realize the true meaning of love is lost today, and our “love” of people is conditional upon their love for us many times. However, there is no real love of God and His Son without true submission to Him and His Word.