2 Ingredients
Ephesians 4:15
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
In a world where there’s too much noise from the outside, and even from within us, there is comfort and peace in the fact that we have the Bible that teaches us of things that would draw us closer to Christ: truth and love.
Seeking the truth is every Christian’s goal in life — then and even now — just like the first disciples did when they first learned about Jesus Christ after John baptized him.
The Bible used the word ‘seek’ which is an action, in itself, but is not as definite like the word, ‘do’.
Seek means to ‘attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something).’ That’s right — and what a humbling reminder this is! We can only attempt to know Christ by praying, reading the Bible, and spending time in fellowship with other believers, but to grow in maturity in the body of Christ, there is another essential ingredient, which is love.
How is it easy to love? Definitely easier said than done. Love can seem like an effortless action and is often associated with happy or romantic feelings or thoughts towards others. Usually, this action becomes fruitless, just like our search for the truth, if done without the guidance and help from the Holy Spirit.
If love is a standard, we mustn’t base it on something as fleeting and fickle as our feelings or emotions. Instead, let Jesus be the measure of what true love is.
In John 15:13, we are taught what kind of love Jesus has for you and me:
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
And just from reading these verses, I thank God for reminding me of His perfect will and seeing things in light of His glorious truth: We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Lord Jesus, thank You for this day. Thank you for another opportunity to live. Thank You for the Bible. Forgive us for our sins and for the times we miss the important things in light of eternity. Indeed, even the simplest things, when taught in a Heavenly perspective, can become the most glorious of mysteries to us, who have yet to see the fullness of your beauty and grace, O God. We humbly ask for Your Holy Spirit to fill us with the hunger to live in Your truth and to help us live out the kind of love that You have for us. Help us become more and more like You, Jesus. Every minute of our lives. We love you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.