As a child, I was taught never to lie. A lie is an untrue statement intended to deceive. We taught our children not to lie, and if they lied, the punishment for their disobedience would be worse than if they told the truth. Many would say it is impossible to lie to yourself. After all, you should know yourself better than anyone. Yet, the Bible says our hearts are deceitful. We fool ourselves many times because of our fleshly desires.
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Most Christians, if asked who or what they love more than anything else, would immediately reply, God. We have been taught this is the correct answer. In Matthew 22:37, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Those who are saved and have been faithful to attend church know that He is to be first. Yet, their words and proclamation of love for God do not match their actions.
Jesus said in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” The word keep is an action verb. I have talked to many who will proclaim how much they love God, but their obedience to God’s commands does not show it. In John 21:15-17, Jesus has just finished eating with some of His disciples after His resurrection. He turns to Peter and asks if he loves Him more than these. It had only been a few days since Peter had denied Jesus at the trial before His crucifixion. He had boldly declared his love for Christ before the crucifixion: “Though all men should deny thee, yet will not I.” Now, He found His disciples fishing and asked Peter this stinging question three times. The first time, He asks if Peter loves Him more than these, his occupation as a fisherman, and more than the people there with them. Is Peter’s love above all the other disciples? Peter repeatedly replies, “Thou knowest that I love thee.” To prove His love, Jesus tells him to “feed my lambs.” These would be the young Christians of the church. The second time Jesus says, “Feed,” it is a Greek word different from the first. It means to govern, care for, guide, and protect. Sheep refers to those older Christians. This would be the church in general. Each time, Peter commits to obey, and obedience requires action.
John 21:15-17 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
The love Jesus talks about in John 14:15 will cause us to want to obey. Let’s take a test and see if we pass the love requirement. In Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” If you understand this verse, we are told not to miss being part of a body of believers and to be faithful to attend church more and more as the coming to the Lord gets nearer. Are we not closer to that time than ever before? Yet, people miss church often. When people get saved, their desires in life change. They want to be with other believers; they enjoy worship and bible study. However, what we see in America is that people go to worship hour on Sunday mornings, a few less on Sunday nights, and a lot less on Wednesday night’s bible study. They don’t get involved in any discipleship group, or they get into a “small group” focused more on fellowship than the study and application of His word. This is a disobedience to the command in Hebrews 10:25. Settling into a routine is not seeking Him and loving Him with all your heart. It is making Jesus fit your schedule and desires, and He becomes a part of your life, not your reason to live.
What about the area of witnessing? Are you actively seeking to win others to Christ? The last command from Christ while here on earth was Matthew 28:19-20 — “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Do you love Him enough to love what He loves? He loves others just as much as He loves you. He desires all to be saved, but He has left us here to spread the word and win others to Him. Are you concerned enough about souls to speak up and bring Jesus to others?
We can give ourselves many other tests to make sure we are not lying to ourselves about our love for Him. We must examine our lives and measure ourselves by the truth, not what is acceptable in our Christian circles. We are wrong if we place other things in place of church attendance. Sickness is a valid excuse; if you are sick enough to be in bed or are contagious, stay home; otherwise, you should be in church. Family gatherings, sporting activities, or tiredness are not valid excuses to God. Witnessing is also a requirement if we are to obey Christ. The thought of someone dying, not knowing our Savior, should break our hearts. It is our responsibility to go and tell. He knows our abilities and our motives. Don’t lie to yourself; honestly, examine your Christian life and make changes to show God and others that He comes first in everything.
