Loving Jesus Christ: A Heart of True Devotion

The importance of having a conscientious love for Jesus Christ.

How God's love for us inspires us to love Him in return.

The example of Apostle Paul, who was a great sinner but became a devoted follower of Christ.

The story of Mary Magdalene, a sinner who was forgiven much and showed deep love and faith for her Savior.

Music Music The title of this message today is called, Do You Have a Conscientious Love for Jesus Christ? It is my prayer and desire for everyone hearing this vital word of truth today that they will listen intently as this is life-saving for one's eternal salvation. In Paul's epistle in 1 Corinthians 16, verse 14, the command is given when he says, Let everything you do be done in love, true love to God and man as inspired by God's love for us. This scripture outlines our message today. Paul is saying the whole of their obedience to Christ is done in love and displayed in their actions, words, and deeds to one another. Everything done in love springs forth from subjection to all of Christ's ordinances and commands. and are first done in love to him and then the whole conduct of behavior towards one another. You see, dear church, God only knows the love of God. Remember, scripture tells us God is love. Only God knows the sinfulness of man. I have thought and said many times, if God showed us our sinfulness, we would crumble and melt into nothingness. In other words, we couldn't stand to see our real selves as God sees us. We have examples of where God spared people who were great sinners. We have Apostle Paul, who killed many of God's elect before he was blinded and fell off his horse that day. Once the Lord appeared to him on that day, and the horrible revelation surfaced in what he had done, He couldn't eat or drink for three days until God sent a messenger to lay hands upon him and heal him. And from there, we know the rest of the story. God used this truly repentant man, who says that he was the worst of sinners, to write practically the whole New Testament. Apostle Paul also said that for him to live is Christ, and for him to die is gain. That is found in Philippians chapter 1 verse 21. His only reason for existence is that he may spend his life in the joyful service of Christ. To die is that for him in death he will receive his crown of life. I think one of the most outstanding examples of a burning conscientious love for Jesus Christ is found in Mary Magdalene's humility and yet boldness as she pursued her Lord Jesus Christ. It would be good for all of us to take notice and see where in our own lives we fall short of this kind of spirit-motivated exuberance. Let's read in Luke chapter 7 beginning in verse 36. One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, And he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the town, who was especially a wicked sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flax of ointment and perfume, and standing behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet affectionately, and anointed them with the ointment, the perfume. Verse 39, Now when the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would surely know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a notorious sinner, a social outcast devoted to sin. Verse 40, And Jesus replying to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Teacher, say it. A certain lender of money at interest had two debtors, one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, The one I take it, for whom he forgave and canceled more. And Jesus said to him, You have decided correctly. Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she, from the moment I came in, has not ceased intermittently to kiss my feet tenderly and caressingly. You did not anoint my head with cheap ordinary oil, but she has anointed my feet with costly rare perfume. Verse 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, many as they are, are forgiven her, because she has loved much, but he who is forgiven little, loves little. We read in verse 37, where this woman called Mary Magdalene heard of Jesus' whereabouts. She invited herself in the house where the Pharisee who had invited Jesus was. Remember that attitude of the Pharisees towards sinners? Even though they were the worst of sinners, as Jesus later pointed out, he called them whitewashed tombs. Mary brought with her an alabaster box of ointment. Standing behind Jesus, she began weeping and then began to wet his feet with her tears. Then still weeping, she wiped his feet with the hair of her head. Then she begins to kiss his feet with sincere, appreciative affection, and then began to anoint his feet with the perfumed oil she had brought with her. Look at this. This woman desired to be near her Savior. In her desire, she burst through the door of the house, uninvited, and armed with perfume ointment, which was very expensive at that time. She was called what we would say she was bold. She was a sinner. Her shame was gone when she came to Christ. Dear Church, may you see in this account of Mary Magdalene, the love that she had for Jesus Christ, her Savior. This is like a mirror to show us what is in our own hearts. And no doubt, before she made her entrance into the Pharisee's house, She probably followed Jesus around as he was compassionately healing sicknesses and setting people free from demonic oppression. She saw, she observed, and felt the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of multitudes. She couldn wait any longer for her opportunity to be touched by her master and savior She didn want to live at a distance from him She followed her lamb wherever he went May we too not be content to live far away from our precious savior dear listener. We need to see another point here in Mary's love for her savior, which we should take notice and imitate, and that is the boldness of her confession. We see that she wasn't ashamed to come to Jesus in the daytime, whereas other followers of Jesus came to him at night. And those who came in the dark were ashamed that others might see them. But Mary didn't care who saw her because faith was working in her life. And when we look at the other significant factors of Mary's faith that was abounding in this account, we see that she had deep humility, even though she was bold in her approach. She gave the most tender and lowly service to her Jesus when she stooped to wash his feet, because this is the thing that slaves did for their masters. Mary's deep repentance for her sins came out in her tears as she bathed her Savior's feet. The tears ran like water over his feet, and with nothing near but her hair, she wiped Jesus' feet with her hair. Can we see the depth of true repentance for sin in this account of Mary, dear ones? Mary didn't make a big show of her repentance, but by her actions, she showed the depth of her deep sorrow for her sins and wrongdoing. And this really shows us how in our own lives, in the inmost depths of our own souls, what we should learn through Mary's demonstration, and take the hatred for our own sins and lay it before Jesus Christ with deep repentance. Mary demonstrated deep love and faith for her Savior when she had been forgiven much, and her life and the continuation of her conscientious love thereafter is made mention in various accounts throughout Jesus' days up to the death on the cross and the open tomb and literally seeing in the garden after his resurrection from the grave. Some of Mary Magdalene's scriptural accounts are, She was one of the women at Calvary who were looking from afar when Jesus died on the cross. She was there when Jesus died on the cross. John 19, verse 25 tells us, But by the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clovis, and Mary Magdalene. She, Mary Magdalene, was at Joseph's tomb when the body of Jesus was wrapped in a fine linen cloth and a large stone was rolled against the door of the tomb. Matthew, chapter 27, beginning in verse 57, tells us, When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it was to be given him. Verse 59. And Joseph took the body and rolled it up in a clean linen cloth used for swathing dead bodies, and then laid it upon his own fresh undefiled tomb, which he had hewn in the rock, And he had rolled a big boulder over the door of the tomb and went away. Verse 61. And Mary of Magdalene and the other Mary kept sitting there opposite of the tomb. Mary also was a witness of the risen Christ. Matthew 28 beginning in verse 1 tells us. Now after the Sabbath, near the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary who went to take a look in the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled the boulder back and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his garments as white as snow. Verse 4. And those keeping guard were so frightened at the sight of him, they were agitated and they trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the woman, Do not be alarmed and frightened, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He is risen, as he said he would do. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him. Behold, I have told you. So they left the tomb hastily with fear and great joy and ran to the disciples. In fact, Mary was the first of any of Jesus' followers to see him after his resurrection. Now we're going to read this account in John chapter 20 beginning in verse 1. Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been rolled, lifted out of the groove across the entrance of the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciples, whom Jesus tenderly loved, and said to them, They had taken him away, the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. Upon this Peter and the other disciples came out, and they went towards the tomb, and they came running together, and the other disciple outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first. And stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not enter. Then Simon Peter came up, following him, and went into the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. Verse 7 The burial napkin, the kerchief, which had been around Jesus' head, was not lying with the other linen cloths, but it was still rolled up, wrapped around and around in a place by itself. And the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, went into, and he saw and was convinced and believed. And yet they did not know and understand the statement of scripture that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went back again to their home, their lodging places. Verse 11. But Mary remained standing outside the tomb sobbing. As she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said to her, Woman, why are you sobbing? She told them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him. On saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know and recognize that it was Jesus. Verse 15. Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you crying? For whom are you looking? Supposing that it was the gardener, she replied, Sir, if you carried him away from there, tell me where you've put him and I will take him away. Jesus said to her, Mary, turning around, she said to him in Hebrew, Rabboni, which means teacher and master. Verse 17. Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brethren and tell them I am ascending to my Father and to your Father and to my God and your God Verse 18 Away came Mary Magdalene bringing the disciples new word that she had seen Jesus and that he had said these things to her Then on that same first day of the week, when it was evening, though the disciples were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace to you. Verse 20. So saying, he showed them his hands and his side. And when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy, delight, exaltation, ecstasy, and rapture. Jesus said to them, Peace be to you, just as the Father has sent me forth, so I am sending you. And after saying this, he breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit. Mary was the first who had the honor and the holy joy given to her to have first privilege of speaking with Jesus after he rose from the dead. It wasn't Peter or James or even John the Beloved. No, not one of these to whom Jesus would first show himself. Mary was marked out before the beginning of time for this awesome privilege. Just think about that. This woman had seven devils in her when she came to Jesus on that day in the Pharisee's house. What a merciful God we serve. Jesus said of Mary, Therefore I tell you, her sins, many as they are, are forgiven her, because she has loved much. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could know the depth of love and gratefulness of any poor sinner who knows that they have been set free. Mary was one of the principal followers of women who followed Jesus throughout his ministry on the earth. Dear ones, the love that Mary had for her precious Savior was a conscientious, vibrant, on-fire love that couldn't be quenched. And this reminds me of a testimony about the conscientious love for Jesus told about a traveling preacher who was going to Portsmouth, Virginia in the 1800s. It goes like this. The ship came into the port of which the master and two of the men were Christians. Learning that the blind preacher was to conduct a service that night, they made their way to the place. The scripture was on the words of Christ to Peter and asking Peter three times if he loved him. And this is because Peter had denied his Lord three times, saying he didn't know him. Towards the close of the preacher's message, he appealed to the audience repeatedly. Who of you can say, Lord, thou knowest all things? The deepest silence prevailed in the room, but the heart of one of the sailors was brimming full. and he could not restrain himself any longer, and bursting out, he exclaimed in thrilling tones, Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee. And the whole congregation that night was melted to tears. This young man, like Mary Magdalene, had a vibrant, conscientious love for his Savior. Jesus Christ, indwelling love, took possession of their hearts in a divine quickening and penetrated in their inmost being with his supernatural life. These wonderful examples show how our Heavenly Father strengthens us inwardly with his power and might and by his Spirit so that he can enliven and give life to our wills by conforming and bringing them to the will of obedience of Jesus Christ who died for us to inherit eternal life. The purpose here is that our hearts are then able to bow before him in humility and in total surrender, seeking the divine life that gives honor and glory to Christ alone. Conscientious love for Jesus now causes our own souls and hearts to delight and have pleasure in pleasing him in every moment of the day in all our actions, our words and deeds, our innermost being is totally aware of his presence within us at all times. We know that by the Spirit who dwells within us, he is revealed in us, and we come to know that he is actually in us as our life now. Dear Church, holy divine unity is one with us. Keeping the love of Jesus in your hearts and minds by the power of the Holy Spirit is an absolute mark of love that you have for him. Jesus said in John chapter 14 verse 15, If you really love me, you will keep, obey my commands. We'll drop down to verse 21 and see that what Jesus refers to here is That love for Jesus is the motivating power of all the actions of those who purport to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. Let's read that. Verse 21. The person who has my commands and keeps them is the one who really loves me. And whoever really loves me will be loved by my Father. And I too will love him and show and reveal myself to him. I will let myself be clearly seen by him and make myself real to him. So our Lord makes it very clear that those who purport to love him will keep his commands, and this will be the identifying mark of one's true and genuine Christianity. It won't be a half-hearted attempt at trying to be a Christian, because there's no such thing as part-time or nominal Christianity. Conscientious love for Jesus and obedience go hand in hand. And another ingredient of this love for Jesus is called gratitude. Holy gratitude puts us in a willing or receptive frame of mind to do everything in our power to that which would be agreeable with the one who died for us. We now want to please our Master more than anything in all of our actions, words, and deeds. And dear listener, the aim of all these things would be that it makes one inclined to move forward and promote Christ's interest and exemplify or manifest his character. You see, to pretend to love Jesus Christ while a person still loves their sins and holds them dear is not any less absurd or illogical than it would be for a man to declare openly his allegiance to his overseers while he is in league with those who are rebellious renegades together have conspired against his overseers and the government with intent to overthrow it. So in other words, a person who says that they love Jesus and are a follower of him and yet displays unchristian acts in outbursts of angry accusing words that are shot like piercing arrows or others that secretly watch or see materials that are perverse and against Bible principles or those who have no lie or sting of guilt or sorrow for wrongdoing. These are all like the renegades who have conspired to overthrow the one who oversees him and his government. and we see much of this going on in the political scene today. You see, the important principle of a conscientious love for Jesus Christ is an affectionate obedience. In 1 Corinthians 16, verse 22, the word declares, If anyone does not love the Lord, does not have a friendly affection for him, and is not kindly disposed towards him, he shall be accursed. Our Lord will come. Maranatha. You see, true love for Jesus Christ also has an affectionate obedience that goes with it. The evidence of its possession in our inmost being is that this kind of obedience is the essential fruit of a renewed heart. There is no excuse for not knowing what Jesus commands of us in our obedience, because these are written in the Holy Book of Life. The fruit of our obedience to Christ is humble. Just as Jesus' life on earth represented humility, he expects the same of his disciples. Our Lord said in Matthew 11, verse 29, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me. For I am gentle, meek, and humble, lowly in heart, and you will find rest and relief and ease for the refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet for your souls. The fruit of our obedience does not question or choose to obey a few certain things, nor are we reluctant to obey readily. It seems as we boil down what Jesus commands of us, we can say that we hear the truth, repent of our sins, believe what he tells us, be baptized, and then do whatever else he commands us to do written in the book of life. Having a conscientious love for Jesus is put first because it is the ultimate reason for our obedience to him. He tells us again, if you love me, keep my commands. Personal affections for Jesus will always produce personal obedience. You see, conscientious love will never fail us, dear church. This kind of love is evident of pardon and forgiveness, as we have seen in Mary Magdalene, who was a great sinner. But this Mary loved much because she'd been forgiven much. Without this affectionate love for Jesus, our best deed, kind as they are, will not gain the attention or acceptance of our Father in heaven. Matthew 25, verse 40 The king will reply to them, Truly I tell you, insofar as you did it for one of the least in the estimation of men, of these brethren, you did it for me. Then he will have to say to those on his left, Be gone from me, you cursed, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and angels. Conscientious love to Jesus produces righteousness and aids us in keeping the commandments. And this love has the Holy Spirit's power to resist sin. When anyone professing to be a believer loves high positions or offices and power of that office in life and loves the praise of men more than they love Jesus Christ, they will not confess him as their Savior or Master. Jesus will not. and cannot be their centerpiece. Luke 9.25 declares, For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and ruins, forfeits, loses himself? Because whoever is ashamed of me, of my teachings of him, will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in the threefold glory, the splendor and majesty of himself, and of the Father, and of the holy angels. Those who have the highest love for Jesus are swift and speedy to confess him as their Lord and Savior without reserve or embarrassment. Romans chapter 10 verse 10 declares, For with the heart the person that believes and hears to relies on Christ and so is justified and declared righteous, acceptable to God, and with the mouth he confesses and declares openly and speaks out freely his faith and confirms his salvation. You see, speaking out about Jesus openly, when God opens the door for the opportunity to confess Christ, is all preparation for heaven. Without a conscientious love to Jesus, no one is fit for any inheritance in heaven, because they're devoted to destruction, and God's word tells us that his wrath awaits them. Dear believer, remember that all of you who love Jesus much must be bold as Mary Magdalene in the acknowledgement of your faith in God Almighty. All true and sincere believers must not be afraid to tell the world what the Lord has done for them. We must all be able to speak out and confess Christ saying, I have had much forgiven in my life, therefore I am not ashamed to tell of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me. May the precious Holy Spirit help you to do so. But let me tell you, you will never do it unless you have a deep sense of sin and repentance, just like our example in Mary Magdalene today. She felt her sin to be a bitter and hideous thing that had a hold of her, and she went to her great physician for his tender healing touch upon her spirit and soul hurts. Out of our hearts, by the wonderful working power of the Holy Spirit, comes the power to be made humble and contrite before God, just like we saw in an example of Mary Magdalene's life today. We are nothing. We have nothing to boast or brag about. If anything is done in us or for us, Jesus, by his great love, his grace, and wonderful miracle-working power, has done it all on the day he laid himself upon the cross over 2,000 years ago. Let us never forget what our precious Savior did for us personally, as he did lay himself on that cross. What love! What love, dear church! Always keep conscientious love for Jesus in your hearts and minds, and always keep your eyes fixed upon the author and finisher of your faith, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

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