I will put myself under the questions of Christ, one of which is, “Lovest thou Me?” This question was first addressed to a disciple who momentarily misplaced his affections. Christ is very jealous of my love and feels rejected when it is spent on the world. I cannot take my love for granted, for it dies from lack of nourishment. It must pass the test: “Do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15, italics added). It is well that Jesus left the object indefinite when addressing Simon, for his “these” were different than mine.
Men usually love things or beings because of value received. I am to love Christ because of His nature, His character, His being. I must love Him because I see spiritual beauty in Him, because in Him are perfect morality and purity. To love Him, therefore, is to show affinity with God, who also loves the same things that are found in Christ, and in such perfection that He can say, “In whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). To love the world is to choose the less than perfect, the less than highest, and therefore to cross swords with God, who says the highest is Christ. No wonder God says the worldly Christian is a spiritual adulterer!
The language of love is, “What more have I to do with idols?” (Hosea 14:8). The result of love is discrimination, for we cannot love two objects equally. Yet loving Christ means more, not less, love to others because God has “poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5, NIV). I positively cannot love Jesus Christ with all my heart while I love others less than myself.
“And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).
Daily with the King 