Jesus takes us back to the relationship as He intended it. As His converts, we must return to the love we had at first, so intense that other loves seem like hatred by comparison (Luke 14:26). He also takes us back to the teachings He originally gave. To repent is to restore that inspired passion and plan. To the extent that we have lost zeal and direction, we need to hear Jesus’ call:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20)
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23)
The Father and the Son live within us by the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 cf. Romans 8:9; 2 Timothy 1:14). The Spirit never acts on His own, in arbitrary ways (John 16:13-15). He is “the Spirit of truth” who never contradicts what He has already revealed (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:3). We enjoy “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 13:14) by faith that remains firm, whether we feel up or down, whether having a good day or a bad day. He strengthens us for the closest intimacy with Christ known this side of heaven.
[I pray to God that] according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
This is the point of Bible study, understanding in order to know, really know our Lord. Let Him live within us as we die to ourselves (Galatians 2:20).
Though intimate, this love is not private. “All the saints” are included. To love the Father is to love His children and to model faithfulness to Him.
Everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:1-3)