How Deep is Your Love?

How Deep is Your Love?

 In Matthew chapter 10: 16-42 the disciples’ minds were presented a gospel that brings to mind the question “How deep is your love for the master?” Likewise as Christ’s disciples today, we are asked this very same question, how deep is my love for my master?
Presented in this gospel sermon is persecution from all sectors of society: the government, countrymen, family, friends and the world.  There is no security for the Christian with the unconverted who receiveth not the saying of Christ.  Christ said, “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and him that receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me.” Matthew 10:41   It is only when the gospel of Christ is received in the heart that harmony can exist as we relate to our fellowmen, but not all men have the love of truth experience.   Rejecting the Gospel of Christ is the reason why there is so much hatred in the world today.  But accepting the Gospel of Christ, that beautifies the experience giving the believer good personality traits which include natural affection, will only be manifested in love one towards another.    Hatred for Christ causes hatred for Christ in you. Christ says “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” (Matthew 10:24) The affections of the rejecter of Christ become so destroyed, so unnatural that father, mother, child, siblings, in-laws would rather have you dead simply because of the faith of Jesus lived by you.
This test will come upon all who claims to love Christ. How deep is your love? You will have to answer personally.  Would you choose the favor of family and friends? Would you rather be in good graces with the governors and judges or will you bear it all for Christ’s sake?  I want to bear it all for Christ’s sake. I want my values and affections to be for God who is supreme (God alone), for without Him there will be no mummy, daddy, sister, brother, husband, child, uncle, aunty, friend, society nor government. Without Him there would be no me! And so  I prayed asking God to make me anew, to give me new values and affections so that I would rather face the hatred of my family and friends, that I would rather be hated of all men for His sake than to hear from Him that I am not worthy of Him.  Give me new affections dear Father that my love for you will surpass any love I have for any human being that I may be worthy of you. Give me a willingness to endure to the end that I may be saved, help me to learn these lessons now and to always chose you no matter what the test may be, in Jesus Holy name.
 So I would rather:

1. Fear not him which kill the body, but fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
2. Confess Christ before men, than to be denied by Christ before His Father.
3. Be at variance against my father and mother, sister, brother etc.  for Christ’s sake than to have “peace”
4. I rather to take up my cross and follow Christ, than to hear that I am not worthy of Christ.
5. To lose my life for His sake and to find it again than to deny him to find (save) my life and lose it.

 
May your love and my love for God be as deep and true that no earthly tie would separate us from our God.  Amen.

By Sis. Karima Paris

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