I tell my wife that I love her often, multiple times a day. My love manifests itself in many ways. I lust after other women, despite the fact that she is far more beautiful. I drink alcohol to escape my responsibilities, even though she prefers me sober and clear headed. I let my anger get the best of me, regardless of the fear and anxiety I cause her.
If this were the case (and praise God it’s not), how could I love my wife in this manner and still call it LOVE?
Do we not realize that we treat God this way all the time? We love with lip service, but practically we act as if Jesus means very little to us. There is good reason to call ourselves wretched: we are.
Maybe this is you, personally. Perhaps it’s not just a general overview of Christians today, but you feel like you are this way. Maybe you know you “love” God but you certainly show it in odd ways.
Isaiah 1:12-15 talks about how our false adoration, worship, and love are disgusting to Him. He even says He will not hear our prayers (v.15). Maybe this is where you are.
But Isaiah 1:27 gives us hope: “Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those who repent, by righteousness.”
Repentance is turning away from the former way of life and running after Jesus. It’s a 180 alteration of your life, not just your speech. We can’t keep living life as if loving Jesus were something done only with our words or our church attendance. It has to be a life of love.
