or something.

[Jesus cared very deeply for the rich young ruler. In the New Testament this word is primarily used to describe the divine, unconditional love of God. This love is often sacrificial, evidenced most clearly in the death of Christ.]

[In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "ahav" conveys a range of affection, from personal devotion to the covenantal commitment God maintains with Israel. It emphasizes loyalty and action rather than mere emotion.]

This loving relationship God demonstrates is God’s choice to set his affection upon his people despite their flaws. It serves as the primary standard and motivation for how believers are commanded to interact with God.

God gives us such loving grace, that we should demonstrate it to our neighbors, family, even our enemies. So, Jesus looked at the young man with all this agape love, yet the man went way grieved.

 

In John chapter 6, Jesus offered the crowd the ultimate spiritual satisfaction, yet they turned back and walked with him no more. When discussions seemingly get difficult should we abandon Jesus who has given us his Holy Spirit?

The tragedy in both our stories isn't a lack of love from Jesus; it is the presence of a competing love in the heart of the listener. This gives us all a moment to pause and think about where and who our love is devoted too.

Beloved, what happens when the love of Jesus isn't enough to keep us from walking away? Where does our life go from there? Where does your love go when the ultimate test of true devotion gets difficult?

Peter's loyalty and love for Jesus was difficult because it started on the surface and was tested. John 21:15-19). Have you ever had a surface relationship with someone? I mean, where there are no roots connected with yours?

When genuine real love is planted, it grabs hold and grows down deep in the spiritual center of where God dwells. It causes both of your love to grow down deep for each other.

It's the kind of love that stands up under any storm. This deep love never bends or wavers when it is tested under the hurricane force spiritual storms that Satan will send against you. Didn't he try that with Job and his wife?

When they faced calamity in their life, Job's wife didn't allow the roots of faith to stand with her husband's. She told him, "Why don't you curse God and die." (Job 2:9-10). Job responded by calling her foolish.

The Bible tells us it rains on the just and the unjust. When the marriage relationship is tested, how deep do the roots of your love for each other go? God is looking for deep rooted connected love with his creation.

There are many examples of love being tested in the Bible and how deep that love actually is. The love of God was put into action for us from the very beginning. Please cherish these words in your heart.

1} "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

2} When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3} For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

4} Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5} Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

10} Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

11} I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." (Isaiah 43:1-5,10-11 KJV).


🗣📢 Last words: You see beloved, there is no one on the face of this earth who loves you more than Jesus does. To know more about this amazing "Agape Love" please read these other passages in your devotion time.

16} "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17} For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."(John 3:16-17 KJV).

You'll find the word love or loveth 26 times in (1 John 4:7-21). That's enough Agape love for your heart and mine.

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (John 3:1 KJV).

9} "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10} If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

11} These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12} This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13} Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:9-13 KJV).

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" (Hebrews 2:3 KJV).

The word "neglect" in the Greek language is (ameleo). It is defined as someone who is careless. Making light of a fact. It is to fail to care for or attend to something properly.

[In a biblical personal way, neglecting such a great act of salvation (God’s love intertwined) is a failure to maintain one's spiritual duties, covenantal responsibilities, often resulting in divine judgment or loss of blessing.]

Devotion time (John 1:10-11; 11:32-39; Hebrews 2:1-5; Revelation 2:2-6; 1 John 3:1-12; verse 16, Mark 10:17-27; John 15:5-13; Luke 10:16; Isaiah 55:3; Psalm 118:22; Matthew 27: 21-23; 31-42; Luke 19:14).

Before we close for this morning, here are three practical views related to our two scripture text. When your love is tested don't shun this love. Please remember your soul is involved in this decision.

A) When earthly treasures outweigh eternal love:
 

The rich young man didn't leave because he hated Jesus; he left because he loved his lifestyle more. Competing love makes us view Jesus' invitations as a loss rather than a gain. (Matthew 6:24; 1 John 2:15-17).

B) When personal comfort outweighs difficult truth:
 

The crowd in John 6 loved the free bread and the miracles, but they hated the hard teachings. Jesus demanded total, sacrificial consumption of who he was.

But their love for comfort and intellectual ease proved greater than their love for the Savior. This can happen to Christian churches that get caught up programs that quench the Spirit. (2 Timothy 4:1-5; Luke 9:23).

C) The ultimate cost of choosing the lesser love:
 

Walking away from Jesus to keep something else is a terrible trade. The rich man kept his money but lost his joy. The crowd kept their old lives but walked away from the "Words of eternal life." (John 6:68).

Here's the mathematical reality of what you are facing when you give in to competing loves that hurt your soul. (Mark 8:35-38; Jeremiah 2:13). There is emptiness of our soul when we choose the stuff of the world over Jesus.

Jesus never forces us to receive his life changing love. He lets us walk away, even when he loves us deeply. The question this morning isn't whether Jesus loves you, the question is, what love in your life is competing with him?

Let it go, because nothing you keep is worth what you lose when you walk away from him. Please don't trade the Savior who died for you for a world that will ultimately leave you empty. Let go of lesser loves right now!


🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to rekindle that first love. "Heavenly Father, thank you, for today's message of having hearts mended and set ablaze by the Holy spirit. You are the source of living water that cleanses our soul.

Lord, we confess that our hearts easily wander to broken cisterns that cannot hold water. We thank you that even when we are tempted to turn back, your eyes look upon us with perfect, unwavering love.

Search our hearts right now, Holy Spirit and expose any hidden rival, any earthly security, or any comfort that we have loved more than you. Give us the supernatural courage to unclench our fists.

Jesus, help us to lay down our heavy burdens, and surrender our competing loves at the foot of the cross, not to the world's death satanic traps. Father, we choose today not to walk away, but to walk forward, following you.

We walk with you Lord, for you have the words of eternal life. Lord, bless each person who clicked on to "Try Jesus" today. Comfort the weary, provide for the needy, in the strong and loving name of Jesus, we pray, Amen."


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