How Deep Is Your Love?
It is likely many of us remember the song of this title written in 1997 by the Bee Gees, and which was one of the songs of the hit movie Saturday Night Fever of the same year. You may not know or recall the words, but the tune was quite popular. The song (a pop ballad) remained in the top ten of the Billboard charts for 17 weeks. Of course, this song focused on the love between a man and his woman. I’m told that one of the worst things one faces in this world is unrequited love. This means that the love one shows for another is not reciprocated, or returned. Not one of us wants to deal with this and we find great comfort in knowing how deep the love of a mate, child, parent, or sibling is.
It is also quite likely that we know already how “deep” the love of God is. The first verse that popped into my head in pondering this was John 3:16. Most folks are at least somewhat familiar with this passage. 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. But as we contemplate this, perhaps we should consider what God was willing to offer, and what Christ was willing to do to show the depth of the love of God.
In Romans 5:6-9 the Spirit has Paul describe the pitiful condition of humanity before God’s plan of Salvation came to fruition. This passage also declares the means by which we might be justified in His sight. We were ungodly, without strength, void of hope, and subject to the wrath of God. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
God “sacrificed” His only begotten Son, as Christ “left” Heaven and came to earth to die to make life (spiritual life) possible. Philippians 2:7-8 tells us this. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He came to show His and His Father’s love toward mankind. Sadly, even many of His own people, the Jews rejected Him as we read in John 1:11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. It seems their love for God was not deep at all.
However, God’s Great Love was offered to all, and we can clearly see from John 1:12-13 that to benefit from God’s Love, that we must requite, or return love to Him. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Therein lies the question to the song, as well as the question each must ask him, or herself in regard to God: “How Deep Is Your Love?” Need we be reminded of the answer of Jesus in Matthew 22:37-38, as he responded to the question of the deceitful lawyer of His day. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.
Is our love for God “deep enough” that we are willing to “die to self” and be “born again”? Or do we, as much of the world does, want God’s Love and all that goes with it, and selfishly withhold our love for Him? OH NO! You say; we would never do that! Is this not what Jesus’ own had done. Some of them rejected Him. In John 14:15, Jesus uttered Words that show us how to prove our love for Him. He said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. How many of the Jews of His day had a “deep enough love” to do that? It seems there were not very many. Of course, when this was spoken, another Law – The Law of Moses was in effect.
However, this same is true in this, the New Testament age. This age began in Acts chapter 2 when the New Testament gospel was preached after Christ had ascended to the Father, having died, shedding His blood, been buried, and resurrected as promised. Then, the Sacrifice had been made and the way for sins to be remitted was in place. Then, and only then could one obey the Commandments of Christ (the preaching of the gospel) and be saved from our past sins. 1John 5:3 tells us: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Is your love for God (and Christ) deep enough that you will reject teaching of men? Is it deep enough that you’ll turn away from tradition? Is it deep enough that you will humble yourselves before God in true obedience to His Word in “FULL COMMITMENT” to Him? Your love must be deep enough to be on that one foundation. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1Corinthians 3:11). That my friends, is the whole of the gospel plan of Salvation. 1) Hear- Romans 10:17 2) Believe-John 8:24 3) Repent-Acts 17:30 4) Confess Christ-Romans 10:9-10 5) Be Baptized into Christ - 1Peter 3:21 6) Remain Faithful unto death - Revelation 2:10
1John 4:9 clearly shows how and why God’s Love for us was manifested, or made known. He has nothing to prove, but we do. Commit to Him today. Obey the gospel. How Deep Is Your Love for God? Show Him every day.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
