Today's Scripture
Matthew 18:2-10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“They went forth for His name’s sake.” 3 John 7
Jesus tells us how our love for Him is to show itself when He asks, “Do you love Me?” (John 21:17). And then He said, “Feed My sheep.” In effect, He said, “Identify yourself with My interests in other people,” not, “Identify Me with your interests in other people.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 reveals the characteristics of this love—it is, in fact, the love of God expressing itself. The true test of my love for Jesus is a very practical one, and all the rest is sentimental and overly exaggerated talk.
Faithfulness to Jesus Christ’s supernatural work of redemption that has been performed in me by the Holy Spirit—“the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). And it is that love in me that effectively works through me and impacts everyone I meet. Through His love, I’m empowered to stay faithful to His name, even though my logic wants to deny His dominion and power.
The key to our devotion is that we are attached to nothing and to no one except Jesus Himself. It does not mean simply being detached from the external things surrounding us. The Son was amazingly in touch with the ordinary things of life, but He had an inner detachment except toward His Father. External detachment is often an indication of a secret, growing, inner attachment to the things we avoid externally.
Our duty is to concentrate on keeping our souls completely and continually open to the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. The men and women our Lord sends out on His endeavors are ordinary human people, but people who are controlled by their devotion to Him, which has been brought about through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Today's Prayer
Jesus, help us to remain devoted to You by identifying ourselves with Your interest in others; to concentrate on keeping our souls completely and continually open to Your nature. Help us to be controlled by our devotion to You through the empowering work of Your Spirit in us.