Can you read the following statement from Jesus and take it at face value?

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him." (John 14:21)

For the most part, we reduce God's love to a static, lifeless, and impersonal object. We assume this because we often reduce God to a mere machine instead of recognizing that God is personal, and because of this, his expression of love is personal, and thus, dynamic, full of life, and uniquely expressed to individuals.

We also reduce God's love by assuming that it is doled out equally to all with no distinct difference toward anyone in particular. Certainly, God loves all, but that by no means implies that he loves all equally in the sense that his love is reduced to a static, impersonal benevolent feeling toward all in general and no one in particular.

Jesus' statement above seems to overrule both reductionistic assumptions. In his statement, he speaks of deeper expressions of love from God toward unique individuals and deeper communion in God's love by those who seek this experience through obedience. Notice what the text clearly states:

1. We demonstrate love to God through faithful obedience (not just gushing exuberance).

2. God returns our love with deeper expressions of his love to us in Christ.

3. Christ manifests Himself more intimately and clearly to those who obey the Father.

Does this bother you? Does it upset your theology? Does it go against your assumptions about God's love? If so, let you theology fall, and let the text stand!

Here is insight into understanding this text: Love demands to be returned by love -- no more, no less. Love is not satisfied with gifts or works, or any other token of love. Love is only satisfied when the beloved returns love with love. That is the goal of love -- to have love received and returned.

Because this is the case, God is not looking for us to return his love with our works or gifts (no matter how great or important these may be). Instead, God wants us to return his love by offering our love in response. When we offer ourselves in love (defined as wholehearted obedience in this text), God rewards our commitment by giving us deeper expressions of communion with Christ -- deeper experiences of Christ's love.

In other words, when we return his love with our love, he subsequently responds with more love! And, one day, the cycle will continue unbroken, world without end! That will be glory indeed!

Do you desire to know Christ better? Do you long to experience deeper dimensions of God's love? Then set your heart to love God through obedience to His commands! That is the message of this text.

God's personal, dynamic, and particular love to individuals is experienced in unique ways and in deeper dimensions by those who long to know God better -- by those who tangibly demonstrate this longing through faithful obedience to God's desires. Will you make an attempt to know and experience God's passionate and personal love through your commitment to faithful obedience this week? If not, why not?

© Richard J. Vincent, July 21, 2002