If You Love Me

Baptism is the key event in the life of every believer as it states in Romans.

(Romans 6:3-4 WEB) 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Prior to this we declared Jesus as our Lord and Savior. From this point on we can create a new person and leave the old person behind. Our loyalties and priorities should change as we continue to walk in newness of life. This next verse outlines the process.

(Galatians 2:20 WEB) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

There’s no one who went to greater lengths to show their love for us than Jesus did. Such a love does not demand but longs for a response. This newness of life we seek comes from a faith that seeks to emulate the person we value the most.

In that vein Jesus said something that is very troubling to many believers.

(Luke 14:26-27 WEB) 26If any [man] cometh to me, and hateth not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

All scripture is to be interpreted in the context of the totality of scripture. Certainly we are to love our family. And for men especially we are charged with laying down our life for our family. But remember Our God said He is a jealous God per (Exodus 34:14 WEB) For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God. We are to love God more. How much more? Obviously a great deal more.

I use the following acrostic when I pray - ACTSS. Note I have an extra “S”. It’s the one that is the follow up to our love for Jesus.

Adoration to our Lord Creator, Savior, and Spirit.
Confess our sins and faults to the Lord for His cleansing and refreshing.
Thanksgiving for ourselves, people we know, and situations remedied.
Supplication for those needs that we have and decisions we need answers for.
Surrender our will and aspirations to our Lord and His priorities in our lives.

And when we pray in earnest and follow our Lord faithfully He will know we love Him. (John 14:15 NKJV) "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

We are not saved by works. But you’d think if we were loved by so great a God we’d automatically share a love for the people Jesus loves. Instead our sin nature still controls us too often. But I believe that we can still get to where we need to be spiritually if we just emulate our wonderful savior and love those He would love - which really doesn’t leave anybody out.

It is more than just WWJD - it is WJIICB (Who Jesus Is I can Be). Then we won’t do works for salvation but as a result of our salvation purchased solely by Jesus!

(Ephesians 2:8-10 WEB) 8For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9Not by works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

As I have sung in church: JW

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence, humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being, absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit, ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

Christ only, always, living in me.