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We are all human; therefore, we all experience periods of spiritual
weakness. From at least one perspective, we find ourselves weak
because we do not fully love Christ. So in periods of weakness,
we could say: My love for Christ is weak.
In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul reveals his prayer to God on behalf
of brethren in Ephesians. Paul writes to them: "For this reason
I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom
the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant
you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with
might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded
in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the
width and length and depth and height -- to know the love of Christ
which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness
of God" (Eph. 3:14-19).
Paul prays that the saints are strengthen. At least in part, this
is through comprehending the immense love Christ has for us. When
we understand this love, we understand that God and Christ will
go to any length, within the righteousness of God, for the salvation
of our soul. And, by comprehending Christ's love, we understand
love - what it is, and what it means to love the Lord.
John says: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God;
and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does
not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of
God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten
Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love,
not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to
be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we
also ought to love one another. ... Love has been perfected among
us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because
as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but
perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But
he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because
He first loved us. ... For this is the love of God, that we keep
His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome " (1 Jn.
4:7-11; 19-19; 5:3).
What should I do when my love for Christ grows weak? Of course
we should spend time in prayer to God (alone and with other Christians),
spend time studying the word of God, and seek counsel from other
Christians. But do not forget Paul's instructions to the Philippians:
"Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are
noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever
things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there
is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate
on these things" (Phil. 4:8).
Meditating and dwelling upon spiritual things, including the love
of Christ, strengthens us to live according to the will of God.
But to think about these things, we must first ground ourselves
upon the word of God. Then, we must get away from the hustle and
bustle of our busy lives and think about God and Christ - His suffering
and agony; and His body and blood which were so freely given that
we might be redeemed from sin.
Are you weak? Then take time to think about Jesus and remember:
"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:6-8).
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