If Jesus is not loved above all!

Today’s Puritan AUDIO Devotional:

“The only effectual reformer of the world!”Samuel Davies
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You will find it helpful to READ the text–as you listen to the audio.

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If Jesus is not loved above all!

(Thomas Doolittle, “Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!” 1693)

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;
 anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me!” Matthew 10:37

If Jesus is not loved above all–He is not sincerely loved at all.

There might be love of other things subordinate to the love of Christ, but not equal with it, much less superior to it. You might love your friends, and love your enjoyments, and love the comforts of your life–but you must love Christ above all. The love of these must be swallowed up in the love of Christ, and be subordinate unto it.

A man who does not love Christ more than sin, and more than pleasures and profits–has no sincere love to Christ, nor shall he be saved by Him.

“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them He said: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:25-27

That is, a true disciple of Christ must and ought to love these things less than Christ–and Christ with prevailing degrees of love. True love in the heart to Christ makes it incline more to Christ, than to all other things!

“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love!” Ephesians 6:24

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If you desire additional reading, may we suggest James Smith’s article, “A Curious Meditation“.
This one is longer, but it is superb.

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