How much do you love Jesus?
We can draw an analogy with how people feel about the arrival of a loved one: nobody would disregard or postpone preparations for someone they deeply care about. The return of a beloved is one of the most significant events in anyone’s life. When that moment arrives, people abandon all other concerns and rush to greet them at the airport or station. They cannot keep silent; they can’t help but tell others that their loved one is coming.
Just as we naturally look forward to the arrival of those we cherish, true love for Jesus is reflected in a heartfelt anticipation of His return.
Sadly, for many believers today, Christ’s return is not seen as the most important thing. Other matters are considered more urgent, and the promise of His return has become a joke for them. People often ridicule or ignore those who mention it, listening with indifference instead. They prioritize worldly advancement over spiritual matters and want to hear about those issues other than the gospel. From this perspective, it becomes clear that they do not truly love Jesus.
Why They Don't Love Him
Why don’t believers love Jesus? Aren’t they connected to Him? It isn’t surprising, then, that people who neither relate to nor believe in Him do not love or look forward to His return. The reason is simple: we cannot love or anticipate someone with whom we have no relationship.
Even though believers are “related” to Christ, their lack of love stems from a lack of personal interaction. Just as a child separated from parents since childhood may know them intellectually yet feel no affection, so too does love depend on intimacy and fellowship rather than mere knowledge. People naturally bond with those they meet daily. Thus, many believers fail to love Christ because they lack personal contact and fellowship with Him.
Believers do not always worship God as they ought. They often fail to keep Him at the center of their lives. Although they worship God, their main concern is usually meeting people rather than honoring Him.
When they pray, they may forget that God is important; instead, they focus only on what they want. They form friendships with fellow believers, but these relationships are satisfied merely by social interaction—whether the Lord is present or not seems irrelevant to them.
Their worship becomes a means of improving their own lives and solving problems rather than an expression of genuine care for God and others. Consequently, they are not close to the Lord, nor do they love Him or seek His presence. They desire the benefits He offers but lack personal affection for Him. In reality, their longing for His blessings does not translate into loving Him.
Thus, they do not anticipate or feel excited about His return. As Jesus warned, people become absorbed in eating, drinking, marrying, building houses, buying and selling—living life without purpose or direction. From Jesus’ perspective, this would deeply grieve Him.
Perhaps that is why He says, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Wrong Expectations
Some believers anticipate the coming of Jesus and the rapture. However, their expectation is not rooted in a desire to meet the Lord but rather in a wish to escape suffering, discouragement, or difficulty—an impulse to be delivered from these hardships. While such an expectation is better than having none at all, approaching the Lord’s return with this mindset leaves no room for joy.
Consider a sick person who hopes for a doctor not out of love for the doctor but because they want to be healed. Likewise, a doctor treats a patient out of duty; even if the patient does not love him, he still provides care. Jesus loves people and cares for them, yet when those He loves do not reciprocate His love, how might He feel?
How Can We Reciprocate His Love?
It has already been stated that love is not produced merely by association but through intimate fellowship. Therefore, there is no shortcut to loving the Lord except through this kind of communion. Love is not a temporary feeling; fleeting emotions are merely lustful affections—desires of the flesh that cannot endure. True love is formed through long‑term communion.
So how can we commune with the Lord? We must read the Word of God, speak with Him, meditate on Him, share about Him with others, obey what He commands, love what He loves, hate what He hates, and place His will above all else.
To be able to do these things, one must read Scripture and converse with Him. The Scriptures are Christ’s love letters; they provide nourishment that reveals what He does for humanity. Only by knowing these truths can we become familiar with Him and begin to love Him.
We should pray and talk with Christ. Some people equate praying with asking for something from God. In reality, prayer involves much more than merely making requests—it also includes praising Him, consulting Him, reporting to Him, and having a dialogue with Him.
When we speak with others, if we only ask all the time, the conversation can feel one‑sided. Instead, we tend to consult, discuss, and share rather than simply asking for something. The same principle applies when talking with Christ: praise Him, seek His counsel, report your life, and engage in a genuine dialogue.
If you are familiar with someone, there is plenty to say; if not, the conversation tends to be brief. Therefore, by speaking more with Christ—by engaging in deeper communion—you will have more to share.The more intimate your relationship with Jesus becomes, the richer your conversations with Him will be.
