'Tis so sweet to be in love. To give yourself to someone in more ways than one, to love and to be loved, rather romantically or platonically, is beautiful. For certain, the gift of love is a gift from God.
And as I read Psalms 63, I knew immediately that what I was reading was a written display of pure affection. "This is a man in love" I said within myself. King David eloquently, and I'd say quite effectively, expressed his emotions in a very profound way.
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
(Psalms 63:1 NIV)
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
(Psalms 63:3 NIV)
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
(Psalms 63:6 NIV)
Is this not a man in love? David's soul thirsted for God. He considered God's love better than life. David thought of God when he laid his head down at night and Psalms 59:16 notes how David sang praises of God's love in the morning.
When you can't get someone out your head, when you think about them morning, day, and night, that's when you know you're in love. When you want to know more about them, when you want to know their likes and dislikes, when you just want to talk to them or spend time with them, that's when you know you're in love.
If you really love someone, you can't stay away from them for too long. You feel odd, incomplete even, when you go a day or so without interacting with them. When you love someone, you make an effort to show them that you love them. You cherish them, respect them, and honor the relationship that you have.
Yes, love is an emotion of the heart. A strong emotion that I'm sure only God can precisely describe. But more importantly, love is expressed through actions. God has thoroughly expressed His love for us. For what greater love than a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
But have we expressed our love to God? Make it personal. Have you expressed your love to God? Do you really love Him? We can say we love God, but talk is cheap they say. In this scenario, I'm inclined to agree. Do your actions reflect your love?
One way to determine if you love God is by checking to see if you are doing the very thing God Himself said you would do if you loved Him. In essence, God told us what His love language is in John 14.
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
(John 14:23-24 NIV)
"If you love me, keep my commandments." Jesus said in verse 15 of the same chapter. Straight, no chaser. Since God is love and He displayed love in the most prolific way known to man, wouldn't He of all beings know how love should be expressed?
Obedience, first and foremost, is how we express our love to God. What is your sacrifice of praise without obedience? What is your reading the Word without applying it? What difference would it make if you thought of God day and night without obeying Him?
I would compare that to my husband buying me jewelry, chocolates, flowers, sending me on expensive getaways, doing anything my heart desires, yet, ignoring the one way I told him that I need love shown to me. If I vividly expressed the one way I desire him to show me love, but he never shows or even attempts to show me love in that way, am I to believe he truly loves me?
We must love God the way He states we are to love Him. So, obedience is key. Additionally, when you truly find yourself falling in love with God, you find yourself seeking Him morning, noon, and night. You'll want to learn more about Him, including what pleases Him and what displeases Him.
You'll cherish, honor, and respect the relationship that you have. A woman or a man, sincerely in love with God, can't go too long without interacting with Him. They'll feel incomplete. Odd. Malnourished. For they realize that they cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4). So, how's your relationship with God?
Are you talking to Him through prayer? Are you allowing Him to talk to you through reading your Word? Do you thirst for God like David expressed in his psalms? In short, are you a man or a woman in love?
You'll know if you are. It'll be evident. But if you are not in love with God the way that you should be, remember that love(God) is also patient. God, who is full of grace and mercy, gives us time to fall in love with Him. I can attest to this. He waited for me to love Him in His specified love language, and I'm so glad He did😊This is also why He has prolonged His 2nd coming. He's waiting for us to love Him (2 Peter 8-9).
So, if you aren't in love with God, I recommend you fall into this massive, agape love that is God. And if you're already in love, may you fall even deeper into the trenches of God's divine, never-ending love.
That's all for this week you guys. Until next time, have a blessed week. Take care.
Quin Arrington's debut book "And Then You Shall Have Good Success: Attaining Good Success God's Way" is available on Amazon in paperback and eBook format. Link to book listed below.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093YK8SBJ?pf_rd_r=5YWRGY52QBQEF3N74385&pf_rd_p=5ae2c7f8-e0c6-4f35