"Do You Love Me?" Pleasure in Obedience

If we love a person, we like to please him.  We are glad to consult his tastes and opinions, to act upon his advice, and to do the things which he approves.  We even deny ourselves to meet his wishes, abstain from things he dislikes, and learn things to do which we are not naturally inclined, because we think it will give him pleasure.

Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  

- The true Christian studies to please Him, by being holy both in body and spirit.  

- Show him anything in his daily practice that Christ hates, and he will give it up.  

- Show him anything that Christ delights in, and he will follow after it. - He does not murmur at Christ's requirements as being too strict and severe, as the children of the world do.  

To him Christ's commandments are not grievous and Christ's burden is light.  And why is all this?  Simply because he loves him.

If we love a person, we like his friends.  We are favorably inclined to them, even before we know them.  We are drawn to them by the common tie of common love to one and the same person.  When we meet them we do not feel that we are altogether strangers.  There is a bond of union between us.  They love the person that we love, and that alone is an introduction.

Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!

- The true Christian regards all Christ's friends as his friends, members of the same body, children of the same family, soldiers in the same army, travelers to the same home.

- When he meets them, he feels as if he had long known them.

- He is more at home with them in a few minutes than he is with many worldly people after an acquaintance of several years.

And what is the secret of all this?  It is simply affection to the same Savior, and love to the same Lord.

To be continued...

Adapted excerpt from the writings of J.C. Ryle