I Dare you, Prove your Love.
You come across stories from time to time about various people who invoke or force somebody else to perform something that they are usually very reluctant to do, just to get them into a certain situation, that often works out so very badly for that person, that so often terminates the relationship, usually it is just a threat for control, and the betterment of the person is almost non-existent.
“Prove you Love Me,” is often enforced, and the sad end result is things like Pregnancy, Criminal Acts, Violence and even Murders. Proof of “Love and Devotion” is not something that anybody should ever have to prove, and then to do something extra special to prove it, as the evidence should basically never be requested, as the relationship alone should be very clearly obvious to all that there is a solid substance to this relationship, the relationship already functioning should be all the evidence necessary, and this should speak volumes already.
God has sort of “Thrown down the Gauntlet” with this verse as found in John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Some modern translations use terms like “If you love me, then do what I am asking you to do” and other similar wording, which could be misconstrued as a sort of “I dare you, prove that you love me.” Does God need to prove his love to us, well he has already done that as found in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Does God need to “Prove his Love” well Calvary has more than adequately, and very publicly, declared God’s Love for everybody. Take this verse from Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” Here those who are abusing Jesus Christ both verbally and physically, but Jesus on the Cross is still offering them Salvation, because Paul puts it this way from Romans 5:6-8 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Has God not abundantly and so clearly showed his Love and Tender loving compassion and desires for the betterment of all, for both the Wicked and the Saints? Ezekiel 18:31 “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” The Scripture is loaded with case after case in generation after generation, of his loving devotion towards humanity, but how do we respond? Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Paul is here admonishing us to get a change in attitude, to look at this from God’s point of view, for he has our very best interests at heart.
Quote; “Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children. Godliness–godlikeness–is the goal to be reached. Before the student there is opened a path of continual progress. He has an object to achieve, a standard to attain, that includes everything good, and pure, and noble. He will advance as fast and as far as possible in every branch of true knowledge. But his efforts will be directed to objects as much higher than mere selfish and temporal interests as the heavens are higher than the earth. {Ed 18}
Quote; “The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver. It never makes him coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hard hearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, bringing them into captivity to Jesus Christ. God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. The living God has given in His holy law a transcript of His character. The greatest Teacher the world has ever known is Jesus Christ; and what is the standard He has given for all who believe in Him? “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. As God is perfect in His high sphere of action, so man may be perfect in his human sphere. The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of continual advancement. We have an object to reach, a standard to gain, which includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character.” {CT 365}
God never has to say “I dare you, prove that you love me,” because our Relationship with God, our Devotion to Jesus Christ, and the moment by moment empowerment of the Holy Spirit that floods through us should clearly declare to Angels and to mankind, that this individual is a genuine, certified, dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. It was once said, “If you were ever arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you.” Or this one, “The proof is in the pudding.” Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.”
Dear Reader; God has spread himself out for examination, taste him, the evidence of his devotion is plain and clear, so how about your devotion? Maybe God should say to each of us; “I dare you; prove that you, love, me.”
