1. Do you love biblical Jesus? - OR do you love the IDEA of loving the biblical Jesus.
2. Do you love the Bible? - OR, do you love the IDEA of loving the Bible.
I am convinced that an examination of these questions and their answers if of primary importance. Every day I see evidence of the IDEA being promoted and professed, but the substance itself being rejected. If you can't stand what the Scripture says, read it only selectively, or if you consistently shy away from it, apologize for it, or avoid reading it because deep-down you don't want to be confronted and challenged by it, then perhaps you don't really love it - and by necessary implication, perhaps you do not really love Jesus. This is just the plain truth. We (of course including ME) need to regularly examine ourselves honestly and repent if necessary. Let's not be foolish and attempt to fool ourselves.
