"Why Should God be loved? I answer the reason for loving God is God himself. And why should God be loved for his own sake? Simply because no one could be more justly loved than God. No one deserves our love more than God. Some may question if God deserves our love or if they might have something to gain by loving him. The answer to both questions is yes, but i find no other worthy reason for loving God except for himself."
"The first and greatest commandment is "thou shalt love the Lord thy God." but human nature is weak and therefore compelled to love itself and serve itself first."
by Bernard of Clairvaux
On the Love of God
when i entered this Christian life i knew that God loved me. as a child God pursued me, and tucked the truth of his love for me into my heart. he pursued me through his people- through a woman named "aunt wanda" who'd pick me up for sunday school, through neighbors that took me to vbs, and through many others. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "the truth that has been revealed to you will not be taken from you or your childrens' children." and so i couldn't get away from the simple truth of the scriptures and songs i had heard as a child. they played on the turntable of my childhood memory, whispering to me again and again "Jesus Loves me this i know."
however i haven't always loved God. i loved myself. i loved myself in that i served, protected, provided, and was out for my own gain first.
and i knew i didn't love God. i knew i needed to, not for God but for me. He loved me, and in order for our relationship to be full i needed to love him.
but i didn't.
and i wanted to.
and so our divine romance began with these honest words, "God i don't love you, but i want to... i want to love you."
i don't know of any prayer that has impacted my life more. God has romanced me, and i have fallen head over heels. and not just once, but countless times!!! and he has romanced me with himself. not with temporary things, prayers answered, or a comfortable life... it is with HIM.
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as longs as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands, My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."
Psalm 63:3-5
Have you fallen head over heels in love with God?
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Denise!
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing it was to stop by here this morning over coffee. I truly love this post because it calls to all of us to love the very person who created us, not the person who gave birth to us. Would we not love our parents?
God is the very person who substains our lives and the lives of our loved ones near us. It is the one thing He asks for us to provide not only to Him but those around us everyday.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
You stopped by my blog last week and I've had yours open in a tab ever since, meaning to say hi and thanks for visiting. I hit the refresh button today and I'm so thankful I did, and could read this post. Good, good stuff. :)
ReplyDeletehey friend - this is beautiful. and i just read all of your posts about emilie and her party. what a blast. glad you had so much fun!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I don't "feel" like I am in love anymore.... I am so thankful that it's in these times where God brings me to a new and deeper kind of love.
:)