Saturday, September 13, 2014

Loving Jesus More by Phil Ryken

We want to love Jesus more and better. So does Ryken. He wants that for the campus he leads so he preached on it during the 2012-2012 academic year. This book is the edited result.

[T]here is hardly anything we need more in the Christian life than more love for Jesus.” But how does it happen? Where does it come from? Ryken reminds us that the love we have for Jesus is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. We need to do everything we can to keep that channel open.

We are to love God with our whole being. Ryken starts with the mind. Realizing the full extent of our sin is essential as he who is forgiven much loves much. There is an emotional element to our love for Jesus. He also addresses how hard it is loving whom we have not seen.

Ryken explores practical ways to love Jesus, such as keeping his commandments and loving the church. We love Jesus by loving His people. “There are thousands of ways to love Jesus more,” he writes.

His thoughts on why we don't love Jesus more are insightful and thought provoking. He writes of life-dominating affections and “darling” sins. He reminds us of the story about the uninvited woman at the Pharisee's house. She no longer cared what other people thought. “She was so in love with Jesus she forgot herself completely."

This is a very convicting book. We are the reason we do not love Jesus more. If you are ready to be honest about your affections, this is the book for you. But be ready to have your heart exposed.

Phil Ryken is the eighth president of Wheaton College. Prior to that he was senior minister at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. He has written or edited over 30 books. He and his wife live in Wheaton and have five children.

Crossway, 176 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

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