It's That Time of Year Again

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."  John 14:21

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, there are objects and thoughts representing love all around us.  Yet, as I was doing my Experiencing God study this week I came across a portion that really reminded me of all that encompasses God's love for us in all areas of our lives.  Here is a portion of that....

"When you come to know God by experience, you will be convinced of His love.  When you are assured of His love, you can believe Him and trust Him.  When you trust Him, you will obey Him.  Scripture indicates, "This is love for God:to obey his commands.  And His commands are not burdensome."(1John 5:3) 

God loves you deeply and profoundly.  Because He loves you, He has given you guidelines for living so you will not miss the full dimensions of the love relationship.  Life also has some land mines that can destroy you or harm your life.  God does not want to see you miss His best, and He does not want your life destroyed by foolish choices.

Suppose you had to cross a field full of land mines, and a person who knew exactly where each one was buried offered to take you through it.  Would you say to him, "I don't want you to tell me what to do.  I have free will!  I don't want you to impose your ways on me"?

I don't know about you, but I would stay as close to that person as I could.  I certainly would not wander off.  His directions to me would preserve my life.  He would say, "Don't go that way, because that way will kill you.  Go this way and you will live."

That is the purpose of God's commands.  He wants you to receive life and have it abundantly.  When the Lord gives you a command, He is trying to protect and preserve the best He has for you.  He does not want you to lose it.  When God gives a command He is not restricting you.  He is freeing you".

(Experiencing God pages76&77)

God's ways may sometimes seem wrong or impossible to us, yet truly they are, in the long run, what is best for us.  My prayer is that not only would we take the time to enjoy the romantic love that God has blessed us with if we are married, but also most importantly, that we would have such an intimate love relationship with God that we will joyfully obey all His commands, no questions asked!

"Obedience is the outward expression of my love for God"

(Experiencing God)