WHEN MY LOVE TO CHRIST GROWS WEAK
by Dan Goddard
We are all human; therefore, we all experience periods of spiritual weakness. From at least one perspective, we find ourselves weak because we do not fully love Christ. So in periods of weakness, we could say “My love for Christ is weak.”
In Ephesians 3:14-21 Paul reveals his prayer to God on behalf of
brethren in
Paul prays that the saints are strengthened. At least in part, this is through comprehending the immense love Christ has for us. When we understand this love, we understand that God and Christ will go to any lengths within the righteousness of God for the salvation of our soul, And, by comprehending Christ’s love, we understand love—what it is, and what it means to love the Lord.
John says “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one
that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward
us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might
live through him. Herein is love, not
that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if
God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (I John 4:7-11). “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may
have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this
world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because
fear hath torment. He that feareth is
not made perfect in love. We love him,
because he first loved us” (I
John
What should I do when my love for Christ grows weak? Of course we should spend time in prayer to God (alone and with other Christians), spend time studying the word of God, and seek counsel from other Christians. But do not forget Paul’s instructions to the Philippians: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Meditating and dwelling upon spiritual things, including the love of Christ, strengthens us to live according to the will of God. But to think about these things, we must first ground ourselves upon the word of God. Then, we must get away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives and think about God and Christ—His suffering and agony and His body and blood which were so freely given that we might be redeemed from sin.
Are you weak? Then take time to think about Jesus and remember “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).