There's a curious trend I'm seeing in Christianity right now. I hear the phrase "...if you love Jesus..." more and more from people when they attempt to defend their faith or explain their motives. A young lady my wife and I spoke with last night said that she got into a lot of trouble in the last few years, but that all of that had changed because she "loved Jesus" again. But what does that really mean? She seemed to indicate that to "love Jesus" meant to have a strong emotional experience with Him that overrides all of your sinful, selfish human desires. it's not based in knowledge or wisdom, but in a person's emotions. But emotions proceed from the heart, and we all know that "the heart is deceitful above all things; who can comprehend it?" [Jer 17:9]
So if a strong emotional experience isn't the answer, then what is? The Word tells us "this is love for God: to obey His commands." [1 Jn 5:3] And we know His commands by knowing His word, by knowing His son, by knowing Him. That only comes through study of the Word, through prayer and meditation on the Word.
And when you know the Father, you'll know why He wants to work powerfully in this world, and you'll eagerly, anxiously follow along in the things He's doing.
And that is the real definition of loving Jesus.
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