"Do You Love Me?" Confess Before Princes

If we love a person, we are jealous about his name and honor.  We do not like to hear him spoken against without speaking up for him and defending him.  We feel bound to maintain his interests and his reputation.  We regard the person who treats him ill with almost as much disfavor as if he had ill-treated us.

Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The true Christian regards with a godly jealousy all efforts to disparage his Master's word, or name, or Church.  He will confess Him before princes, if need be, and be sensitive of the least dishonor put upon Him.  He will not hold his peace and suffer His Master's cause to be put to shame without testifying against it.  And why is all this?  Simply because He loves him.

If we love a person, we like to talk to him.  We tell him all our thoughts, and pour out all our heart to him.  We find no difficulty in discovering subjects for conversation.  However shy and reserved we may be to others, we find it easy to talk to a much-loved friend.  However often we may meet, we are never at a loss for conversation.  We have always a lot to say, a lot to ask about, a lot to describe, a lot to communicate.

Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The true Christian finds no difficulty in speaking to his Savior.  Everyday he has something to tell Him, and He is not happy unless he tells it.  He speaks to Him in prayer every morning and night.  He shares his wants and desires, his feelings and his fears.  He asks counsel of Him in difficulty.  He asks comfort of Him in trouble.  He cannot help it.  He must converse with his Savior continually, or he would faint by the way.  And why is this?  Simply because he loves Him.

To be continued...

Adapted from the writings of J.C. Ryle