Our Love to Christ
The Christian life is characterized by love to Christ, which is the foundation for great faith and joy.
Andrew Murray emphasizes the profound love Christians have for Christ, even without having seen Him, which fills their hearts with unspeakable joy. He explains that this love is not just a feeling but an active principle that delights in obeying God's commandments and reflects Christ's self-sacrificing love. Murray asserts that true Christian life is characterized by love, which fosters great faith and joy, serving as a powerful witness to the world. He encourages believers to spend time in communion with Christ to deepen their love and strengthen their faith. Ultimately, love, joy, and faith are essential components of a vibrant Christian life.
Text
...Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:7-9.
What a wonderful description of the Christian life! People who had never seen Christ, and yet truly loved Him and believed on Him, so that their hearts were filled with unspeakable joy. Such is the life of a Christian who really loves his or her Lord.
We have seen that the chief attribute of the Father and of the Son, is love to each other and love to man. This love should be the chief characteristic of the true Christian. The love of God and of Christ is shed abroad in the Christian's heart, and becomes a well of living water, flowing forth as love to the Lord Jesus.
This love is not merely a blessed feeling. It is an active principle. It takes pleasure in doing the will of the beloved Lord. It is joy to keep His commandments. The love of Christ to us was shown by His death on the cross. Our love must be exhibited in unselfish, self-sacrificing lives. Oh, that we understood this: In the Christian life, love to Christ is everything!
Great love will produce the growth of great faith, which includes faith in His love to us, faith in the powerful revelations of His love in our hearts, and faith that He through His love will work all His good pleasure in us.
The wings of faith and love will lift us up to heaven, and we shall be filled with joy unspeakable. The joy of the Christian is an indispensable witness to the world of the power of Christ to change hearts, and fill them with heavenly love and gladness.
O ye lovers of the Lord Jesus, take time daily in the inner chamber with Him anew to drink in His heavenly love. It will make you strong in faith, and your joy will be full. Love, joy, faith, these will be our life each day through the grace of our Lord Jesus.
Sermon Outline
- The Chief Attribute of the Father and Son
- The Characteristic of the True Christian
- The Growth of Great Faith
- Faith in His love to us
- Faith in the powerful revelations of His love in our hearts
- Faith that He through His love will work all His good pleasure in us
Key Quotes
“In the Christian life, love to Christ is everything!” — Andrew Murray
“The wings of faith and love will lift us up to heaven, and we shall be filled with joy unspeakable.” — Andrew Murray
“O ye lovers of the Lord Jesus, take time daily in the inner chamber with Him anew to drink in His heavenly love.” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- Take time daily to drink in the heavenly love of the Lord Jesus.
- Let your love for Christ be exhibited in unselfish, self-sacrificing lives.
- Grow in faith by trusting in the love of Christ and the powerful revelations of His love in your heart.