LOVING JESUS

Jesus knows what it is like to be cheated on! He has been patient and long-suffering as all throughout history His beloved Israel has been unfaithful to Him, committing spiritual adultery over and over again. The heart of Jesus yearns for a faithful bride. He longs for a people who will have eyes only for Him with no other love coming between.

What is it that brings joy to a wife or husband? It is faithfulness—the ability to look into each other's eyes and see trust. No lies or secrets! So it is with our relationship with Jesus. “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no [lack of gain]” (Proverbs 31:10-11). Can Jesus look into our hearts and safely trust us?

I know an evangelical sisterhood that spends hours just “loving Jesus.” They repent for the unfaithfulness of His cheating bride. They try to fill His aching heart—to fill up the lack of love— and they speak of “His hurt.” Truly Jesus must hurt when so few love Him with all their being. My heart is breaking and through tears I pray, “Oh, Jesus! How unfaithful I’ve been to You over the years. How often the things of this world took my heart. I’ve chased after cars, antiques, sports. There have been times of loving the praises of men, of wanting things, and giving my time to these other concerns.” The Word of God says, “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

Jesus asked a very disturbing question: “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). The word “faith” in Greek means “reliance upon and faithfulness to.” To Him! He prophesied a great falling away, that even His elect would be greatly tempted. So many will fall and chase after this world in lust and pleasure. My cry is, “Oh, Lord, draw me to Yourself. Let me be one whom You can trust. Let me love You without reservation. Give me a pure, holy, unmixed love for You!”