GOD LOVES US, BUT HOW MUCH DO WE LOVE HIM?
BIBLE PASSAGE:
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
(Ephesians 6:24)
MEDITATION:
Certain relationships in life require only a moderate degree of devotion.
Being vague and distant might be adequate in some personal relationships
but there are love relationships that require much more. Some friendships
can evolve into love between two people, and when it does, two hearts give
themselves to each other and meld themselves from two into one.
Instead of living as separate entities, their interests, priorities, and paths
are combined. The indifference and distance which a casual friendship
might be able to survive, will not work in a love relationship. Love gives
all, and it requires all in return; love includes a new transparency that a
friendship might be able to survive without.
In a love relationship, the desires of one person becomes binding obligations
for the other. There is a desire of both to know the wishes and longings of the
other. The more we get to know someone, the more we know their needs and
the more we know how to help them when they need us. Loving someone means
we learn the desires of the heart and what we can do that pleases them.
Friendships are great, but love relationships are special. In order
for us to deepen our love relationship with the Lord, we must learn
more about Him, what He expects, and what pleases Him.
The more we learn about God, the better we will know how to fulfill
His desires for us and the more we will learn about how to obey Him.
More of His desires will replace our selfish desires, and we will begin
to become more like Him in our words, actions, and attitudes.
ACTION:
How well do you know the Lord and His desires for you? Do you
spend time alone with Him daily through prayer and reading His
Word? Some people think that although they don’t try to learn
more about Him, they don’t have a hatred for Him, so they have
a good relationship with Him.
But the opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. Hate indicates
there is at least some level of emotional feelings toward someone else.
Indifference makes the statement that the other person is unimportant,
and does not deserve any attention.
Some people use indifference as a form of passive aggressiveness to
‘lash out’ at others. You may have experienced this in your own life.
You might be with a group of people, and you detect one person who
seems to be trying to make sure that you are not a participant in any
of the discussions.
When you start to speak, they interrupt by talking over you. If you
express your opinion, they are quick to find fault with anything you
say. If you happen to ask a question, they will quickly change the
topic before anyone has a chance to respond to your question.
It is a subtle way of making you feel insignificant and keeping the
focus on themselves or others, without appearing to be hateful.
None of this is even remotely related to the love Jesus has shown
us, and the kind of love that we should show toward others, which
is pleasing to God. Hopefully, you are not a person of this type.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfathomable love
for me. Forgive me for not loving You more than I do.
Forgive me for not striving to learn more about You and
Your desires for me. Forgive me for selfishly taking Your
love, but giving nothing in return. Help me to give a higher
priority to my love relationship with You, so I can become
more obedient to Your commands and strive to fulfill Your
desires for me.”
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