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 Ephesus.  Paul writes to them “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).

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 4:17-19). “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (I John 5:3)

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).