Love Comes With Responsibilities

by Darla Noble

Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

John 15:9-11

I’m here to suggest that the word ‘love’ is the most overused word in the English language. Well, it might come in behind ‘okay’, ‘uh’, ‘and’, and ‘but’. But you know what I mean, right?

We love pizza, frozen yogurt, and a nice steak. We love that song. We love the sunshine. We love a good book. We love hanging out with friends. We love lounging beside the water. We love….

I’m not saying we don’t love these things—in the way we can love things. But in truth we have a fondness…liking…or partiality toward them. We enjoy them. They give us pleasure. But love?

Let’s look at the God-given definition of love: patient, kind, doesn’t hold a grudge, isn’t self-seeking, doesn’t envy, seeks truth, perseveres, protects, and always wants the best for the one they love.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t know these things apply to food, television, the beach, or having a good time. No, because those things aren’t relational. Jesus’ love for us, however, is.

He cares for us. He listens to us. He blesses us. He protects us. But most of all, Jesus died for us all because of love. BUT (see I told you it was a word that was used a lot) just like Jesus has taken on the responsibility of loving us, we must take on the responsibility of obeying His commands in order to relationally love Him back. And when we do, our hearts really do overflow with love.

Do This: Write out the definition of love (1st Corinthians 13:4-7). Now ask yourself if you are demonstrating this kind of love to Jesus and others? If you aren’t, what will you do to change that?