Do you love me

    Do you love me?

Songs of Solomon 3:4 says Scarcely had I passed by them, when I found the one I love, I held him and would not let him go , until I had brought him to the house of my mother, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.

When we mention the word love, a lot of things come to mind for example giving. The bible says in John 3:16 that for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. Love is not only about giving but it is about giving one’s best. That was what the Lord gave, His son – His best, it’s really not about giving one’s best but it is about giving all. The bible says He gave His only begotten son. The only Son He had He gave. No wonder the bible says He loves us with great love in Ephesians 2:4

Another thing that comes to mind when we talk of love is forgiveness.1 Peter 4:8 says love will cover a multitude of sins. Proverbs 10:12 says love covers all sins. Love does not only forgive but it forgets. Proverbs 17:9 says He who covers transgressions seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friend.

Also love is kind and patient. Colossians 3:12 says therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering. Ephesians 4:32 says and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave. There is a lot to learn from love. According to 1 Peter 1:22 love is from the heart.  1 Peter 4:8 says love is fervent. 1 Timothy 1:5 says love is from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith.

There are different grades of love .One of the grades is found in Mark 12:31 which says love your neighbor as yourself. What you want for yourself is what you want for your neighbor. Many of us do not take alcohol because we are Christians but we do not mind buying it for people or entertain our guest with them. That is the highest level of hypocrisy and wickedness. If Salvation is good for us, it should be good for our neighbors, friends and families, how come we are reluctant to share Christ with our friends and family. Remember, we can only claim to know God when we show love to our neighbors 1 John 4:8 

Another grade is the one between couples .Ephesians 5:24 says just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. The submission of the church to Christ is total. This is the standard God expects from a Christian wife. Ephesians 5:25 says husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her. Jesus did not only give Himself for the church, He sacrificed Himself for the church. A man that demonstrated this was Jacob in Genesis 29:18-20.Out of love for Rachel, he served Laban for seven years and the bible records that the seven years looked like days. This is the standard God expects from husbands .

The highest grade of love is found in Matthew 22:38-39, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with your entire mind. This is not only a grade of love but it is a commandment. Paul demonstrated this in Acts 21:1-13. While everyone was telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem or else he will be arrested. Paul told them he is not only ready to be arrested but to die for Jesus.

In what way can we express our love to Him? Through our obedience to His commandments. Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep My commandments”. John 15:10 says if you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I kept My father’s love and abide in His love. Our love is measured by our obedience to His words. We cannot say we love Jesus and refuse to evangelize.  Luke 11:23 says he who is not with Him is against Him, he who does not gather with Him scatters. Jesus says in John 14:21 “he who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he, who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I will love him and manifest myself to him”.

To proof our love for Him, we must walk according to His commandments. 2 John 1:6 says this is love that we walk according to His commandment. If we say we love Him, what are willing to do to please Him? Our love for Him is measured by what we are willing to go through for Him. What are we willing to suffer for Him?

Our love for Him is measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for Him? Paul sacrificed his status – a prestigious Pharisee to follow Christ, Peter gave up his fishing profession to follow Christ, and Elisha gave up his father’s farm to follow Elijah. Our love is measured by the level of insult we are willing to take for His sake. Also our love is measured by what we are willing to give to Him, Abraham gave Him Isaac in Genesis 22:1-19, Jesus gave His life to Him.

Our love is measured by what we are willing to give up for Him, I know of a brother who gave up a job that pays around 1400 pounds for a job that pays around 600 pounds just to have time for church, help in opening and closing the Church. Our love is measured by the price we are willing to pay to be with Him, what we are willing to do support His projects. Jesus told Peter if you love me , feed my sheep , John 21:17 .How many of his sheep have we fed ?I know of people who have sold their cars to support Kingdom projects. Sometimes back in other to show our gratitude to Him and express our love to Him, in a single day we shared tracts from house to house (telling the world about his faithfulness) for over ten hours with no break or rest.

Someone might ask, what is in it for the individual who is prepared to love the Lord? Proverbs 8: 17 say He loves those who love Him. What happens when He loves a man? Well an example could be found in 1 Kings 3:4-12. He told Solomon to ask, after he asked, He gave him his request and what he did not ask for. If you love Him, He will tell you to make a request , out of His generosity He will grant your request and also give to you what you did not even ask for

The first step to love Him is by giving one’s life to Christ. If you have not given your life to Christ or you have before in times past but you have back slidded, please return to Him today.

The bible said in Romans 3 v 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 v 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be saved? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 v 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague. Remember Matthew 10 v 32 which say whoever confesses me before me, him I will confess before my father who is heaven.