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.

A measure of love is what you are willing to give up to show that love. God gave up His only Son. What will you give up? If you say you love someone, how do you prove that love?

Mark 12:30-34 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

There is a difference between knowing the right answer and doing the right thing. They dared not ask any more questions because they knew in their hearts that they had not given their all in loving God. This I know because their whole existence had been performance based exercise in ritual. It is not that I judge them, the scriptures clearly indicate that.

The question left unasked here is simple. Is your expression of love performance based? Do you have an expectation of performance and if you do not see that expectation met, then love failed? That is the human aspect of love.

If I don’t get what I want, you don’t love me.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

The thing about continuing is that to do so, you have to start. Ever met a Christian who only reads his bible in Sunday school, church or meetings? That is better than nothing but this is not what Christ meant by continuing in His word. The root word for disciple is discipline, it takes discipline to continue in reading His word. Reading, studying, meditating, discussing, reasoning, ands sharing His word takes disciple.

I understand better than most how life can get insistent on your time. I am a 24/7 caregiver for a failing wife. I am dedicated to her and there is nothing I won’t do for her, but one. I won’t give up my quiet time. I may have to allow interruptions, wait for her to sleep, allow others to watch over her for a moment, but I have the discipline to continue in His word.

Then there is the practice of the word. What good is knowledge without application? No one is trained up to allow those talents to go to waste. The word must also be used do what the word does best, glorify God.

Psalm 57:5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

And this so that those who do not know Him might come to know and love Him also.

Psalm 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

How would they come to seek God if no one were to declare His word?

John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Because He loves us so.