John 1:35-42 (NLT)

In today’s passage, we encounter two men who have come to discover God’s love for them in Christ Jesus. As we carefully examine the text, we can discover a general principle on the process of how one is properly led to God’s love.

Two disciples of John the Baptist first heard the message from John about who Jesus was: “The Lamb of God!” They not only received the ministry by word but are directed and pointed toward Jesus. It is important to note that as one is guided towards Jesus, Jesus will do the initiating, as indicated in verse 38. According to Romans 5:8, God’s love is relentless in searching for His own: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Next, our hearts’ motivation must be thoroughly examined in order to properly know God’s love. In verse 38, Jesus asks, “What do you want?” Jesus asks all believers the same question even today. Too many people today follow Christ with impure motives. Many seek God for the benefits of the Kingdom, but are unwilling to submit to the King.

Who is Jesus to you? Is He an aspirin you take when you have a headache? Some magic lamp that you rub when you are in need? Or is He the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed for your sin, whom you trust for your redemption and choose to follow? Unless your heart’s motives are examined and purified, your understanding and application of God’s love in your life will be incomplete. Examine your heart today and truly meditate on this question to see what your heart’s motivation is in following Christ. This will enhance the peace that you enjoy in Christ, and you’ll learn to rely on God’s love more consistently. As 1 John 4:16 says: “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”

When our hearts’ motives are addressed, Jesus simply says to us, “Come and see.” God’s love is not some philosophical notion nor is it entertained within our intellectual spheres, but it is something that is tangible, experiential and powerful. As the disciples spent the day with Jesus and saw for themselves who He was, they were fully convinced of God’s love and became motivated and committed. And so, like anyone who encounters something that is real, powerful and good would do, they went out and shared this love to others so that they might experience and enjoy the benefits of God’s love.

The disciples’ process of coming to know God’s love shows the cycle that is created by a proper understanding of God’s love and the appropriate action of evangelism that results. Unless you have experienced that love to the fullest, you cannot be driven to proper action. It is in this manner that the Kingdom of God is enhanced.

Reflection:
It is essential that we are discovering God’s love properly every day so that His love may motivate us to do the right things with joy, not by force or out of guilt. Let’s mediate and pray that we continue to grow deeper into God’s marvelous love in Jesus Christ!

*This devotional first appeared in Encounter Monthly Journal, December 2005