Parents have a wonderful time with their young children when it comes to verbally expressing love. Some parents tell their child they love them with all their hearts. Not to be outdone, certain children will say something like “I love you ten times more!” Sharing our love verbally is wonderful and we need to tell our loved ones often how much we care for them.

Many times in Scripture we read statements of the Lord’s love for His people. When it comes to how we express our love for the Lord it is clear that the Lord wants works, not words, to be the measure of our love for Him.

We may sing in church that we love the Lord, but when Monday comes and we are not obeying the Lord, then what happened Sunday is meaningless and worse. We are hypocrites to say the least.

Test your love for the Lord using the method Jesus gives us in our verses for today. Do you measure up? Do you need to improve? Do you know of some secret sin that creeps up unaware and suddenly you feel its defilement? Then seek the Saviour quickly and ask forgiveness. He will gently grant your request and cleanse your troubled heart.

Whatever your need He graciously calls you so listen to the One Who died for you. Come quickly and come now.

Spirit of God, who dwells within my heart, 
wean it from sin, through all its pulses move. 
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as you are, 
and make me love you as I ought to love. 

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, 
no sudden rending of the veil of clay, 
no angel visitant, no opening skies; 
but take the dimness of my soul away. 

Did you not bid us love you, God and King, 
love you with all our heart and strength and mind? 
I see the cross there teach my heart to cling. 
O let me seek you and O let me find! 

Teach me to feel that you are always nigh; 
teach me the struggles of the soul to bear, 
to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh; 
teach me the patience of unceasing prayer.

 Teach me to love you as your angels love, 
one holy passion filling all my frame: 
the fullness of the heaven-descended Dove; 
my heart an altar, and your love the flame. 

- George Croly