John 5:42

“Besides, I know all about you—there is no love for God in your hearts.”  John 5:42 EFP

You know the worrisome part of this verse?  Jesus is talking to people in my business.  These are religious leaders who are challenging him, and this is his response.  It’s sobering to think these religious leaders do not have a love for God in their hearts.  How did this happen?  I can’t believe they began their spiritual path with the idea they would not have any love for God.  It seems so contradictory at its root. 

But Jesus is not just bluffing—he knows them.  He can see right through them and he does not like what he sees.  Their empty condition is made more tragic because they are the ones entrusted with the spiritual nurturing of the populace.  They speak for God.  The help the people understand the will of God.  What happened?  When did they go bad?

There has to be a message for me in here.  Every verse contains at least some morsel for me to nibble on.  When God sees me, does he see a love for Him?  What does a love for God look like?  Is it seen in my words?  In my deeds?  In my thoughts?  In my motives?  I need the love of God “deep, deep; down, down; deep down in my heart,” as the song says.  If it’s in there, the rest takes care of itself.  God will see me and recognize me as his child.