I remember the time I went by to visit a good friend’s granddaughter that had moved to our town. She and her husband had a five-year-old son.
While we were sitting on the front porch and visiting, her son opened the door to their house and out came a young puppy. He was so excited and wagging his tail and so glad to see everyone. He wanted us to rub on him, and he would even get up in our laps and try to lick us, (A dog’s way of saying that they like or love you).
That little puppy was so friendly and loving to everyone. He is probably 10 to 12 weeks old. That sweet, young, loving puppy reminds me of something that happens to a person when they ask Christ to come into their heart.
When we accept Christ, He brings a new kind of love into our hearts.
John 8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.”
1 Timothy 1:14-15 ...and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
If we have not accepted Christ, the love of God is not in us.
John 5:42-43 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
John 14:24 The Bible teaches several ways to tell if we have it or not. One, we will love God, and we will love other Christians, (John 13:34 & 35).
Loving and obeying God’s word is another way to tell if we are truly Christians, (John 14:15&23, 24).
We all have a degree of love but nothing like the love that Jesus Christ puts in our hearts.
See you in Church next Sunday.