It is many times through the greatest of trails that God brings you to a point that you finally just a little bit begin to barely realize that you do not love Him as He ought to be loved nor do we ever trust Him like He should be trusted. Sadly still we may by His grace also understand that without Him working on us that we will never have the faith and love. I pray that He does continue to do His work and we become thankful for the trails and lessons He shall provide.
Extra Credit: There is little secret to what one of Gods most stubborn enemy is PRIDE. It is the sin of pride that allows a man to believe that he can love a God like He should be loved. It is pride that believes that he has anything to offer the Lord. I have this very short one today for some additional reading from Jonathan Edwards on this topic.
Jhn 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jhn 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Jhn 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
What are the differences between commandment and His Word?
These verses confirm or answer any question left from verse 21 (that we must first love Him and keep His commandments for Christ to then love us). Because we love Him we willing keep His words. Because we love Him we have faith and believe Him. But what of my love and faith? I sadly must now confess that I have never kept one of His commandments one time! My own faith I must admit though I may try with all my heart has never really relied solely on Him and trusted entirely on Him! It is with disgust and anguish that I know that my love, faith, and works have never produced a single good work on their own! I fall far too short, and can never first love Him and keep any commandment!
My love or ability to strive to keep His commandments never gives Christ cause to love me nor does anything I do or have ever done contribute to my salvation or bring me closer to Heaven or righteousness. No, if a man loves Him it is only because He first loved them. And if any man ever keeps His words, comes to Him, or abodes with Him it is only because He first choose them and loves them. My love and faith are the substances of His first work in me and the evidences of His work for me. He alone produces my love and gives me the margin of faith as the fruits and proof of His grace and finished work. Let us thank Him only in humility that He choose us, redeemed us, call us, and gave us in mercy a new heart and new the desire to love Him and keep His words. And in viewing our love others may see the works of His Son.
