In the gospel of Mark chapter 4, Jesus told the parable of the 4 soils, later his disciples who did not understand asked Jesus to explain it meaning. After teaching its meaning he told them this.

Mark 4: 23 "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 24 "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more."

Jesus said we need to listen to his teachings carefully with the right heart, seeking to understand his Father’s will and he will measure the sincerity of our heart as we listen to his teachings out of love for him.

Knowing and obeying our Father's will Jesus said in Matthew 12:50 are those he will recognize as his brothers and sisters which makes them his Father’s children. So, it is very important to know our Father’s will and not guess or assume what it is. We need to listen carefully to hear our Father’s will when reading his word with the mind of Christ so our heart becomes like his.

In John 3:16, there is no denying of God’s love for the world when he gave his one and only Son to die for its sins, but this love God has for us does not mean he will know you or that you will find him, or that he will come close you. We need to understand God gave his love to the whole world and the world rejects his Son and does not want to know or find him or care about being close to him.

But for believers, Jesus said it is the measure you use to know his Father’s will and love him will determine if God knows you, if you will find him or that he will come close to you.

We find this in:

1 Corinthians 8: 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

Jeremiah 29: 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

James 4: 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

If you want God to know you, you must love him. If you want to find God you need to seek him with all you heart and if you want him to come close to you, you need to come close to him. God showed us how great his love is for us by giving his Son, so God wants to know how much we love him.

We all can proclaim God’s love for us, his great and awesome love, but Jesus is measuring our sincere devotion to love God and by that measure we use He will give to you.

Our salvation is believing in God’s loving grace that saved us through our faith in his Son and Lord by loving his Father by obeying his will and then they will make their home in you.

John 14: 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

The Holy Spirit makes his home in those who love Jesus by obeying his teachings and commandments and not the way the world loves, it is the way Jesus loves his Father.

Those who love Jesus know why he is their Lord and Shepherd like David did in:

Psalms 23: 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

When Jesus is our Lord and Shepherd, we no longer want worldly things and its interest.

We find peace with God which restores our weary soul by finding rest when we take upon Jesus’ light burden and easy yoke in Matthew 11:28. Jesus’ name gives us comfort through the Holy Spirit’s teaching, counsel, and guidance by showing us how to stay upon the narrow path to enter the narrow door.

Jesus is our hope and assurance of our eternal life, so we no longer walk in the fear of death (Hebrews 2: 14-15).

God is love and anyone who wants to be in his love forever must love Jesus by seeking him with all their heart from God’s word and obey it so God will make their home in them and by the measure you use to want to be with Jesus, he will use that same measure to be with you.

The body of Christ must be one in its faith, love, and baptism in his name for the purpose of preparing each other to be with God forever in his kingdom. It does not seek God for their survival or what concerns the world, they die to it and live for the interest of God.

A church is a Christ driven one when it seeks Jesus to be its head by obeying his teaching as their Lord and profess in the same hope of eternal life for those who love the name of Jesus.
Be safe in Jesus
Ps Glenn