Why do you love Jesus

Psalm 116:1-9

“I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.   Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.  The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.  Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”  Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.  The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.  Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.  For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”

I believe that each person who goes by the name of Christian should ponder on, and I mean give a lot of thought to why you love the Lord Jesus Christ.  My first thought was I have taken up my cross and followed Him.  Do I wait for His directions or do I enter into church programs because someone needs help?  Am I an obedient child, or do I know the Father will forgive my actions no matter how wrong?  Do I have a deep desire to serve others, or is my desire to be at the front table and be served?

Maybe it is as simple as what the Psalmist has done in the Scripture above, it’s called reflection or recall of all God has done for you.  Maybe you and I need to ask a few questions.  Has God heard my voice?  Has He acted on your cries for mercy?  And was your answer affirmative as was His? “Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.”  Do you give thought as the Psalmist has done about what Jesus did to buy you out of bondage and give you life eternal, bring you out of darkness into the light?  Have you given thought about how often you bring your broken life to Jesus?  This was how the Psalmist did so; “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.  For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice