Read John 14.
They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them. (John 14:21)
For much of the disciples’ lives, Jesus, who is right there with them, is apparently hidden from them. But to those who love him he promises to reveal himself.
This is the test of love: do you desire nothing more than pleasing the one that you love? Desiring to get something for yourself from God is the spirit of the servant; desiring to do what you can for God is the spirit of the friend. And what in the world can you do for God? Keep his commandments.
I once begged God for a way that I could give him a gift. The response was, ‘have the courage to speak the truth.’ Which I ought to have been doing anyway.
What in the world can you give to God? Only your love. You hear that he has prepared a place for you. You see him in Jesus’ humility and service and suffering and resurrection. You taste him in the way that all things work together for your good. You respond with gratitude and love.
What in the world can you give to God? Only your self, your will. God gives you a freedom to choose, an ability to decide what you will love and desire, to affect your affect. You can give it back.
God gives himself to those who give themselves to him. Have you truly given yourself entirely to him? Have you given up your perceived right to decide for yourself where you will go and what you will do? Have you given up your desire to protect yourself, to improve yourself, to see to your own salvation? If so, you truly love God more than yourself, and he has promised that he will reveal himself to you.
Pray for more love. Every day, pray for more love. You will receive, that you may be able to keep his commandments.
