I have a dear friend who often says, “Love Jesus, do whatever you want.”

In a culture rampant with the idea of relative rather than absolute truths, this statement certainly sounds appealing.  My friend, however, is quick to explain what this statement means:  If we truly love Jesus, then we will do whatever pleases Him.

“Love Jesus, do whatever you want” is said to be a modern-day version of something St. Augustine wrote around 400 AD:  “Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is Beloved.”

Isn’t that what true love is all about?  We learn about our beloved.  We work to please him or her.  We live our life in fidelity to that love.

The Grace of Christ is not a license to sin.  It’s a license to love.  Let’s look at the encounter Jesus had with a woman caught in adultery in John 8:2-11.  The woman was brought to Him by the Pharisees who demanded that she be stoned for her actions, according to the law.  Jesus told the crowd that the person without sin should throw the first stone.  The crowd dwindled away until only Jesus and the woman remained.  Let’s read the final verses in her encounter with Jesus:

He asked, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Jesus gave the woman His Truth and Saving Grace.  As a result, her encounter with Jesus was an opportunity to love.   If she loved Him, she would not return to her sinful choices and sexual brokenness.  Falling in love with Jesus means that we experience a heart change.  We want to change our sinful behavior and do our best to sin no more.  (For more about this concept, click here:  Sin No More)

Jesus said, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.”  (John 14:23a)  Jesus doesn’t call us to a religion.  He calls us to a relationship.  We build on this relationship by learning what is important to Him when we read the Bible.  We learn in a faith community how He wants to be worshipped and how we might use our talents to be His Hands and Feet, coming alongside and walking with other wounded souls.

Is it hard to live under the rule of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?  Yes and no.  We may need to deny some of our worldly views and fleshly desires, but we gain adoption into God’s eternal Kingdom and the freedom to live for the purpose God has given us.  It is a beautiful potential, indeed, to fall in love with the Beloved.  When that happens, we can truly say, “Love Jesus, and do whatever you want.”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11:28-30