88Ralph Sockman, a preacher, noted the frequent use of the word “walk” in the NewTestament: “walk in the light,” “walk in love,” “walk in truth,” “walk in light,” “walk in thenewness of life.” He then pointed out that:“We must enter into truth feet first even more than head first.”When the religious leaders of Jesus’ day asked how they could know whether what Hewas teaching was from God, Jesus responded:“If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comesfrom God or whether I speak on my own” (Jn 7:17).Obedience, therefore, is an organ of spiritual knowledge. We cannot know God apartfrom obedience. That is the final test. Doing God’s will is the litmus test of whether we knowGod in a personal and intimate way. The reason Jesus said He never knew these religiousworkers was because they were caught up in their orthodoxy and religious works rather than inlove relationship with Jesus Christ which evidenced itself in loving obedience.The greatest insult to the Lord is a will that is not surrendered. Whatever else we may do,however great our offerings and sacrifices! No matter how impressive our works in His name--these will add up to zero apart from obedience that comes from a yielded heart. God’s willcannot be simply discussed, debated, admired, praised, it must be done. It must not be merelytheologically analyzed, congratulated for its ethical tones; it must be obeyed.On “that day”—the Day of Judgment—what will Jesus say to you? “Enter into Myeternal presence and blessing!” Or “I never knew you, away from Me, you evildoer!”? Jesus’answer depends upon your relationship to Him. Jesus’ answer depends on whether thatrelationship is formal or personal, distant or intimate. And the sincerity of that relationship willbe seen in whether our lives are lived in loving obedience to Him and His commands.May the inscription on an old slab in the cathedral of Lubeck, Germany, not apply to us:“Thus speaketh Christ our Lord to us:Ye call me Master, and obey Me not;Ye call Me Light, and see Me not;Ye call Me Way, and walk Me not;Ye call Me Life, and desire Me not;Ye call Me wise, and follow Me not;Ye call Me fair, and love Me not;Ye call Me rich, and ask Me not;Ye call Me Eternal, and seek Me not;Ye call Me Gracious, and trust Me not;Ye call Me Noble, and serve Me not;
89Ye call Me Mighty, and honor Me not;Ye call Me Just, and fear Me not;If I condemn you, blame Me not.” 8I hope we have come to experience the reality of C.H. Dodd’s definition of theknowledge of God:“To know God is to experience His love in Christ and to return that love in obedience.”
- Page 1 and 2:
1THE WILL TO LOVELars Wilhelmsson
- Page 4 and 5:
4He who loves calls us also to love
- Page 6 and 7:
6We live in a world starved for lov
- Page 8 and 9:
8“Division has done more to hide
- Page 10 and 11:
10D. L. Moody painfully recognized
- Page 12 and 13:
12A COMMANDGod knew it would be har
- Page 14 and 15:
14The familiar story of David and G
- Page 16 and 17:
16CHAPTER 2 FOURFOLD DIMENSION OF L
- Page 18 and 19:
18Our faith and love are tested whe
- Page 20 and 21:
20STORGEStorage is the word used in
- Page 22 and 23:
22PHILIAThe third word for love is
- Page 24 and 25:
24The pre-Christian use of the word
- Page 26 and 27:
26HOW DO I LEARN TO LOVE?1 John 4:7
- Page 28 and 29:
28Prolongs lifePrevents or cures ma
- Page 30 and 31:
30We can only love to the degree to
- Page 32 and 33:
32THE DISCIPLINE OF LOVEHebrew 12:5
- Page 34 and 35:
34Holiness, not happiness, is God
- Page 36 and 37:
36God’s discipline is a sign that
- Page 38 and 39: 38“Moreover, we have all have hum
- Page 40 and 41: 40CHAPTER 5 SERVICE: LOVE IN OVERAL
- Page 42 and 43: 42To love Jesus is to love His peop
- Page 44 and 45: 44Quickly my bubble popped, the ide
- Page 46 and 47: 46TIMOTHY AS AN EXAMPLEAccording to
- Page 48 and 49: 48Jesus Christ came not to be minis
- Page 50 and 51: 50CHAPTER 6 SHOULD WE LOVE OURSELVE
- Page 52 and 53: 52How different from the words of J
- Page 54 and 55: 54At creation, God was pleased with
- Page 56 and 57: 56As far as we know the apostle Pau
- Page 58 and 59: 58CHAPTER 7 LOVING OUR ENEMIES
- Page 60 and 61: 60insults us or injures us or griev
- Page 62 and 63: 62The last part of Hebrews 11 catal
- Page 64 and 65: 64“You have heard that it was sai
- Page 66 and 67: 66“Love indiscriminately, therefo
- Page 68 and 69: 68It was while we were hideous to G
- Page 70 and 71: 70Love is the most durable power in
- Page 72 and 73: 72LOVE’S TRUE TEST Part IJohn 14:
- Page 74 and 75: 74Suppose the boy paused to ask,
- Page 76 and 77: 76Here we have the great God whom t
- Page 78 and 79: 78The God who has revealed that “
- Page 80 and 81: 80“Faith and obedience are bound
- Page 82 and 83: 82“Cheap grace is the preaching o
- Page 84 and 85: 84Service in the name of Christ is,
- Page 86 and 87: 86While they claimed Jesus as Lord,
- Page 90 and 91: 90CHAPTER 10 LOVE IS ALSO FEELING
- Page 92 and 93: 92The Bible states, “As He (Jesus
- Page 94 and 95: 94The author of the book of Hebrews
- Page 96 and 97: 96On the day of Pentecost the early
- Page 98 and 99: 98In speaking of Jesus Faber says:
- Page 100 and 101: 100the sake of God; if we are in ou
- Page 102 and 103: 1025“When God Disciplines in Love
- Page 104 and 105: 104BIBLIOGRAPHYSt. Augustine, The C
- Page 106: 106
Change language