True Love for Christ: Commitment Beyond Words

 

Summary

True love for Christ is not just a declaration but a commitment to live in obedience to His commands. It's easy to say we love Him, perhaps because it's what we've been taught or because it feels like the right thing to say. However, true love is demonstrated through our actions and choices. We often claim to be under Christ's authority, yet our lives reflect a different reality, one that is often at odds with His teachings. This inconsistency is like living a spiritual sun tan, where we appear to be in the light but are actually in the shadows.

Many of us are willing to go to great lengths for earthly relationships, whether it's to secure a commitment or to fulfill desires. Yet, when it comes to our relationship with Christ, we often fall short, treating Him more like a fan than a follower. Our love for Christ should be so profound that it overrides all other desires, including those that conflict with His teachings. This kind of love requires self-denial and prioritizing spiritual and relational health over personal gratification.

In marriage, I've learned that my love for my spouse must surpass my love for myself. Similarly, our love for Christ should lead us to put His will above our own. Many Christians claim to be married to Christ, yet their actions suggest otherwise. They compartmentalize their faith, keeping Christ in a box, only to be opened when convenient. This is not true love; it's more like pushing Christ away while benefiting from His grace.

It's time to embrace real love for Christ, a love that frees us from the world's handcuffs and aligns our lives with His teachings. I am grateful to my mother for showing me what it means to truly love Christ every day. Her example has been a guiding light in my spiritual journey.

Key Takeaways

- True love for Christ is demonstrated through obedience to His commands, not just verbal declarations. It's easy to say we love Him, but our actions must align with His teachings to reflect genuine love. [00:11]

- Our willingness to go to great lengths for earthly relationships should be mirrored in our relationship with Christ. True love for Him should override all other desires, requiring self-denial and prioritizing spiritual health. [00:47]

- Many Christians treat their relationship with Christ as a fan rather than a follower, engaging with Him only when convenient. True love for Christ demands a consistent and committed relationship, not a compartmentalized one. [01:01]

- In marriage, love for a spouse must surpass self-love. Similarly, our love for Christ should lead us to prioritize His will over our own desires, reflecting true commitment and devotion. [01:13]

- Real love for Christ frees us from the world's handcuffs and aligns our lives with His teachings. It's time to embrace this love and live in a way that truly reflects our commitment to Him. [01:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - The Call to Obedience
[00:24] - Living in the Light
[00:36] - Love Beyond Words
[00:47] - Earthly vs. Spiritual Commitment
[01:01] - Fan or Follower?
[01:13] - Self-Denial in Love
[01:25] - Compartmentalized Faith
[01:36] - Embracing Real Love
[01:53] - Gratitude and Growth

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 14:15 - "If you love me, keep my commands."
2. Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"
3. James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

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Observation Questions:

1. In the sermon, what does the speaker mean by "spiritual sun tan"? How does this relate to living a life that appears to be in the light but is actually in the shadows? [00:24]

2. How does the speaker describe the difference between being a fan of Christ and being a follower? What are some examples given? [01:01]

3. What does the speaker say about the lengths people go to for earthly relationships compared to their relationship with Christ? [00:47]

4. How does the speaker use the metaphor of marriage to explain our relationship with Christ? [01:13]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean to truly love Christ according to John 14:15, and how does this align with the sermon’s message about obedience?

2. How does the concept of self-denial in Matthew 16:24 relate to the speaker's point about prioritizing spiritual health over personal gratification? [01:13]

3. In what ways does James 1:22 challenge the idea of compartmentalized faith as discussed in the sermon? [01:25]

4. How does the speaker’s personal story about his mother illustrate the sermon’s message about living a life that reflects true love for Christ? [01:53]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where your actions do not align with your verbal declarations of love for Christ? How can you work towards aligning them? [00:11]

2. Consider the earthly relationships you prioritize. How can you mirror that commitment in your relationship with Christ? What specific steps can you take this week? [00:47]

3. Think about a time when you treated your faith as a fan rather than a follower. What changes can you make to ensure a consistent and committed relationship with Christ? [01:01]

4. In what ways can you practice self-denial to prioritize Christ’s will over your own desires? Identify one specific area in your life where this is needed. [01:13]

5. How can you avoid compartmentalizing your faith and instead integrate it into every aspect of your life? What is one practical step you can take to achieve this? [01:25]

6. Reflect on the example set by the speaker’s mother. Who in your life models true love for Christ, and how can you learn from their example? [01:53]

7. Identify one "worldly handcuff" that is holding you back from fully embracing your love for Christ. What action can you take to break free from it this week? [01:36]

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience as the True Measure of Love
True love for Christ is not merely spoken but is demonstrated through obedience to His commands. Many people find it easy to declare their love for Christ, often because it is what they have been taught or because it feels like the right thing to say. However, genuine love is reflected in actions and choices that align with His teachings. There is often a disconnect between what people claim and how they live, creating a spiritual facade where they appear to be in the light but are actually in the shadows. This inconsistency calls for a deeper commitment to live out the love professed for Christ. [00:11]

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14:21, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you align your daily actions with Christ's teachings to demonstrate your love for Him more authentically today?


Day 2: Prioritizing Spiritual Commitment Over Earthly Desires
Our willingness to go to great lengths for earthly relationships should be mirrored in our relationship with Christ. True love for Him should override all other desires, requiring self-denial and prioritizing spiritual health. Many people invest significant time and energy into securing commitments or fulfilling desires in earthly relationships. However, when it comes to their relationship with Christ, they often fall short, treating Him more like a fan than a follower. This kind of love demands a shift in priorities, where spiritual and relational health takes precedence over personal gratification. [00:47]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one earthly desire or commitment that you need to reevaluate in light of your relationship with Christ? How can you prioritize your spiritual health today?


Day 3: From Fan to Follower: A Consistent Relationship with Christ
Many Christians treat their relationship with Christ as a fan rather than a follower, engaging with Him only when convenient. True love for Christ demands a consistent and committed relationship, not a compartmentalized one. This means moving beyond a superficial engagement with Christ and embracing a deeper, more meaningful connection that is evident in everyday life. It requires a commitment to live out one's faith consistently, not just when it is convenient or beneficial. [01:01]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)

Reflection: How can you move from being a fan to a follower of Christ in your daily life? What specific steps can you take to ensure your relationship with Him is consistent and not compartmentalized?


Day 4: Self-Denial in Love: Prioritizing Christ's Will
In marriage, love for a spouse must surpass self-love. Similarly, our love for Christ should lead us to prioritize His will over our own desires, reflecting true commitment and devotion. This kind of love requires self-denial, where one's own desires and preferences are set aside in favor of Christ's will. It is a call to put Christ first in all aspects of life, ensuring that His teachings and desires take precedence over personal ambitions and gratifications. [01:13]

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to practice self-denial to prioritize Christ's will? How can you begin to make this change today?


Day 5: Embracing Real Love: Freedom from the World's Handcuffs
Real love for Christ frees us from the world's handcuffs and aligns our lives with His teachings. It's time to embrace this love and live in a way that truly reflects our commitment to Him. This kind of love liberates individuals from the constraints and expectations of the world, allowing them to live authentically according to Christ's teachings. It is a call to embrace a love that is transformative, leading to a life that is fully aligned with Christ's will and purpose. [01:36]

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways are you currently bound by the world's expectations? How can embracing real love for Christ free you to live more authentically according to His teachings today?

Quotes


if you love him then why don't you obey his commands how can you say that you love him while taking the stake of disobedience and pierce through his hands oh you love him but maybe like me you've always said that because you've heard it from your parents but how can you say that you love him while taking the talent that he gave you and burying it in the sand you claim to be under the authority of the son but then turn and live a dark life what is that a spiritual sun tan? [00:01:46]

I know what you're saying you're saying Jonathan you just don't understand I can't keep up with all of these biblical love demands but yes you can because I've seen where you'll go through just to get him to put a ring on your left hand and I've seen where you'll go through just to see if you can go get in her pants you see you'll do a song and then do a dance oh you love him but maybe not as a follower but as a fan and you know that's true because you're only on him when the consequences of life are on you like sweat from your gland [00:34:58]

man you see it all depends on what you really want in reality that true love for Christ can override the tendencies of hetero or homosexuality but don't get mad at me I just learned in my marriage that my love of my spouse must supersede the love for myself and that true love for Christ is denial of self for the greater goal of spiritual relational health but most Christians claim to be married to Christ but then everything he's on is in a box to the left to the left [00:61:35]

that's not love that's more like you watching Christ go to the cross and you giving them a shove that's more like you stealing his grace for heaven but as far as on earth he can stay up above Enough's enough it's time for us to get to this real love stuff because most Christians claim to be freed by Christ But prefer to live in the world's handcuffs and claim that they love him [00:87:60]

I want to thank my mom for loving me in such a way that it taught me how to truly love Christ every single day mom I love you let's grow [00:109:86]

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Transcript
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