The love of Christ is personal, transformative, and eternal—compelling us to adore Him and cherish His people. To love Jesus is to treasure His sacrifice and embrace the church He redeemed with His blood. Let this love overflow in worship, service, and unity, reflecting the grace He’s poured into our lives. Together, may we glorify the One who first loved us.
– Moe Bergeron

My Love for My Savior and His Redeemed People

The greatest privilege of any believer is to love the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who first loved us and gave Himself for us. This love is not abstract or distant—it is deeply personal, profoundly transforming, and eternally secure. As Paul reminds us, “He loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God” (Ephesians 5:2, BSB). What can compare to such love? What can be more compelling than to respond with all our hearts to the One who gave His all for us?

But this love does not stop with Him alone. To love Christ is to also love those He has redeemed, the people He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28 declares, “Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” If the Savior treasures His people so much that He would die for them, how can we not also treasure and care for them?

Love Rooted in Redemption

The love we have for Christ stems from the wonder of what He has done for us. Before we knew Him, we were “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1, BSB). We were without hope, without God, and destined for wrath. Yet, through His infinite mercy, Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we might live in righteousness (1 Peter 2:24).

This act of redemption is not merely a transaction; it is the ultimate display of love. The Apostle John writes, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10, BSB). Our hearts are drawn to adore Him because He first loved us. Every act of obedience, every moment of worship, and every stirring of affection is a response to His perfect love.

Loving His People

When we are drawn to Christ, we are also drawn into fellowship with those He has redeemed. The church is not a collection of individuals but a family united by the blood of Jesus. Paul describes the church as the body of Christ, with each member being essential to the whole (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). This interconnectedness means that to love Christ is to care for His body.

Jesus Himself emphasized this when He said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35, BSB). Our love for one another testifies to the reality of our faith and glorifies the One who made us one. This love is patient, kind, forgiving, and sacrificial—mirroring the love Christ has shown us.

Living Out Love

To love Jesus and His people requires intentionality. It means spending time in His Word to know Him better, lifting our hearts in prayer to commune with Him, and seeking opportunities to serve others in tangible ways. It means bearing one another’s burdens, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep (Galatians 6:2; Romans 12:15).

Loving His people also involves humility and grace. Just as Christ loved us while we were yet sinners, we are called to extend love to others, even when it is difficult. This kind of love flows from a heart that has been transformed by the gospel, a heart that sees others through the lens of Christ’s redeeming work.

The Overflow of Love

Ultimately, our love for Christ and His people is a reflection of His work within us. As the Spirit continues to conform us to the image of Christ, this love will grow and overflow. And one day, we will see Him face to face and experience the fullness of His love in ways we can scarcely imagine now.

Until that day, may we treasure Him above all and love His people well. Let our hearts echo the words of the psalmist: “Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25-26, BSB).

To love Jesus is to embrace the treasure of His grace and the beauty of His people. It is to live as one redeemed, with a heart overflowing in gratitude and affection for the Savior and His church.

What About You, Dear Reader?

Do you know and enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? He is not a distant figure or a mere historical person. He is alive and calls you to Himself. He offers forgiveness, hope, and eternal life through His death and resurrection. He promises, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, BSB).

Will you respond to His love today? Will you trust in the Savior who gave His life for you? Open your heart to Him, and you will find a joy and peace that nothing in this world can offer. Then, join in loving Him and His redeemed people, for there is no greater privilege than to belong to Jesus and His family.