Marks of Love to Christ
J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)
Let me show the peculiar marks by which love to Christ makes itself known. The point is one of vast importance. If there is no salvation without love to Christ, if he that does not love Christ is in peril of eternal condemnation, it becomes us all to find out very distinctly what we know about this matter. Christ is in heaven, and we are upon earth. In what way shall the man be discerned that loves Him?
Happily, the point is one that it is not very hard to settle. How do we know whether we love any person here upon earth? In what way and manner does love show itself between people in this world—between husband and wife, between parent and child, between brother and sister, between friend and friend? Let these questions be answered by common sense and observation, and I ask no more. Let these questions be honestly answered, and the knot before us is untied. How does affection show itself among us?
(a) If we love a person, we like to think about him. We do not need to be reminded of him. We do not forget his name, his appearance, his character, his opinions, his tastes, his position, or his occupation. He comes up before our mind’s eye many times in the day. Though perhaps far distant, he is often present in our thoughts. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! Christ “dwells in his heart,”
and is thought of more or less every day (Eph. 3.17). The true Christian does not need to be reminded that he has a crucified[1] Master. He often thinks of Him. He never forgets that He has a day, a cause, and a people, and that of His people he is one. Affection is the real secret of a good memory in religion. No worldly man can think much about Christ, unless Christ is pressed upon his notice, because he has no affection for Him. The true Christian has thoughts about Christ every day that he lives for this one simple reason: he loves Him.
(b) If we love a person, we like to hear about him. We find a pleasure in listening to those who speak of him. We feel an interest in any report that others make of him. We are all attention when others talk about him and describe his ways, his sayings, his doings, and his plans. Some may hear him mentioned with utter indifference, but our own hearts bound within us at the very sound of his name. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian delights to hear something about his Master. He likes those sermons best which are full of Christ. He enjoys that society most in which people talk of the things that are Christ’s. I have read of an old Welsh believer, who used to walk several miles every Sunday to hear an English clergyman preach, though she did not understand a word of English. She was asked why she did so. She replied that this clergyman named the name of Christ so often in his sermons that it did her good. She loved even the name of her Savior.
(c) If we love a person, we like to read about him. What intense pleasure a letter from an absent husband gives to a wife, or a letter from an absent son to his mother. Others may see little [that is] worth notice in the letter. They can scarcely take the trouble to read it through. But those who love the writer see something in the letter that no one else can. They carry it with them as a treasure. They read it over and over again. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian delights to read the Scriptures because they tell him about his beloved Savior. It is no wearisome task with him to read
them. He rarely needs reminding to take his Bible with him when he goes a journey.[2] He cannot be happy without it. And why is all this? It is because the Scriptures testify of Him whom his soul loves, even Christ.
(d) If we love a person, we like to please him. We are glad to consult his tastes and opinions, to act upon his advice, and do the things that he approves. We even deny ourselves to meet his wishes, abstain from things that we know he dislikes, and learn things to which we are not naturally inclined because we think it will give him pleasure. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian
studies to please Him by being holy both in body and spirit. Show him anything in his daily practice that Christ hates, and he will give it up. Show him anything that Christ delights in, and he will follow after it. He does not murmur at Christ’s requirements as being too strict and severe, as the children of the world do. To him, Christ’s commandments are not grievous, and Christ’s burden is light. And why is all this? Simply because he loves Him.
(e) If we love a person, we like his friends. We are favorably inclined to them, even before we know them. We are drawn to them by the common tie of common love to the same person. When we meet them, we do not feel that we are altogether strangers. There is a bond of union between us. They love the person that we love, and that alone is an introduction. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian regards all Christ’s friends as his friends, members of the same body, children of the same family, soldiers in the same army, travelers to the same home. When he meets them, he feels as if he had long known them. He is more at home with them in a few minutes than he is with many worldly people after an acquaintance of several years. And what is the secret of all this? It is simply affection to the same Savior and love to the same Lord.
(f) If we love a person, we are jealous about his name and honor. We do not like to hear him spoken against without speaking up for him and defending him. We feel bound to maintain his interests and his reputation. We regard the person who treats him ill with almost as much disfavor as if he had ill-treated us. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian regards with a godly jealousy all efforts to disparage his Master’s word, or name, or church, or day. He will confess Him before princes, if necessary, and be sensitive of the least dishonor put upon Him. He will not hold his peace and suffer his Master’s cause to be put to shame, without testifying against it. And why is all this? Simply because he loves Him.
(g) If we love a person, we like to talk to him. We tell him all our thoughts and pour out all our heart to him. We find no difficulty in discovering subjects of conversation. However silent and reserved we
may be to others, we find it easy to talk to a much-loved friend. However often we may meet, we are never at a loss for matter to talk about. We always have much to say, much to ask about, much to describe, much to communicate. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian finds no difficulty in speaking to his Savior. Every day he has something to tell Him, and he is not happy unless he tells it. He speaks to Him in prayer every morning and night. He tells Him his wants and desires, his feelings and his fears. He asks counsel of Him in difficulty. He asks comfort of Him in trouble. He cannot help it. He must converse with his Savior continually, or he would faint by the way. And why is this? Simply because he loves Him.
(h) Finally, if we love a person, we like to be always with him. Thinking, hearing, reading, and occasionally talking are all well in their way. But when we really love people, we want something more. We long to be always in their company. We wish to be continually in their society and to hold communion with them without interruption or farewell. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The heart of a true Christian longs for that blessed day when he will see his Master face to face and go out no more. He longs to be done with sinning, repenting, and believing, and to begin that endless life when he shall see as he has been seen and sin no more. He has found it sweet to live by faith, and he feels it will be sweeter still to live by sight. He has found it pleasant to hear of Christ, talk of Christ, and read of Christ. How much more pleasant will it be to see Christ with his own eyes and never to leave him anymore! “Better,” he feels, “is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire” (Eccl. 6.9). And why is all this? Simply because he loves Him.
Such are the marks by which true love may be discovered. They are all plain, simple, and easy to understand. There is nothing dark, abstruse, and mysterious about them. Use them honestly and handle them fairly, and you cannot fail to get some light on the subject of this [article]. I speak of things that are familiar to everyone. I need not dwell upon them any further. They are as old as the hills. They are understood all over the world. There is hardly a branch of Adam’s family that does not know something of affection and love. Then let it never be said that we cannot find out whether a Christian really loves Christ. It can be known; it may be discovered; the proofs are all ready to your hand. You have heard them this very day. Love to the Lord Jesus Christ is no hidden, secret, impalpable thing. It is like light—it will be seen. It is like sound—it will be heard. It is like heat—it will be felt. Where it exists, it cannot be hid. Where it cannot be seen you may be sure there is none.
From the book Holiness by J. C. Ryle
