Loving Jesus, Loving God (A Word Picture)

What exactly does loving God look like?

He's invisible to the human eye.  

I was up praying last night.  In the middle of the night.  And the Lord gave me a "word picture" that I just HAVE TO share.  I have heard a lot that love is not a feeling but actions.  And in a sense it's true. But, I'm convinced that love does start out as a feeling and it's feelings that keep actions coming.  But if it remains just a feeling, is it true love?

What kind of actions will show true love?  

As I was praying, I started saying out loud the words, as if I was describing to a person sitting in front of me what the Lord was showing me.  And then I realized that the Lord was speaking to ME, through ME.  This is the word picture He gave me to show me what true love is:

It's a cold, dark, stormy night.  In the middle of the night, you hear a knock at the door.  You turn on the lights and go to see who's out there at this late hour.  Two people are standing there:  One is an old friend whom you have not seen for a long time.  The other is a complete stranger.  

You look in the direction of the first and he explains, "I drove for three hours to come see you.  I've been thinking a lot of you, I missed seeing your face, I missed talking and fellowshipping with you, I longed to just be in your company."  The feeling is mutual.  You invite him in.  

Then you look in the direction of the stranger, still standing there, shivering, hair disheveled, soaked by the cold rain.  It looks like the two just happened to arrive at your door at the same time.  

When you look in his direction, he knows it's his turn to speak, to explain himself, to beg for your mercy.  "My car broke down", he begins, "about a mile from here. No other homes in sight, I have no phone and would not know who to call anyway.  I'm far from any family or friends.  Would you please give me a bowl of food and shelter till morning light?  Maybe a cot to sleep on?  I'm cold and wet, I've walked in the storm and am thankful I came across your home. Please?!?!".  What can you say?  He too is a human being.  You invite him in, out of the cold rain still coming down in torrents.

You feed him and show him to a cozy sleeping area, nice and warm and dry!  He quickly falls asleep.

Now you turn your full attention to the friend.  You know he loves you.  He traveled a long distance, sacrificed, just to come spend some time, catching up, enjoying each other's company.

Unlike the stranger, he did not come to knock at your door for what you can do for him.  He had no other interests in mind.  He did not ask for favors and he did not even state a desire to do things for you.  He only wants to spend time with you!  Enjoys being in your presence.  

Which one of these really loves you?  The stranger who came to your home for what he can get from you?  Food, shelter, a nice warm place to sleep?  And in the morning will disappear as quickly as he appeared?  Or the one who sacrificed just to spend time with you?  Just to see your face without keeping track of time?

Well, if you were thinking on a spiritual level as I described the scenario, you already know where I'm going.  How many people come to Jesus, come to God, like the stranger?  "Lord, I'm afraid of hell, I know heaven is the only other option, so would You please take me into Your heaven?  Lord, I'm sick, would You please take my pain away?  Lord, I need this and that, would You please provide?"  

OR, "Lord, with me on Your team, You can't go wrong.  I'll tithe, I'll go on missions, I'll do whatever I can."  But these same people sometimes are doing so much stuff "for the Lord" that they find no time to spend with Him.

True men of God, even in the Old Testament found pleasure in His presence.  David, the man after God's own heart said in Psalm 16, verse 11 "In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

True love of God is finding joy, even pleasure in His presence. Enjoying Him soooo much in the intimacy of your secret garden, your prayer closet, that you'd never want to leave.  It's not about what He can do for us and it's not even about what we can do for Him.

It's about feelings of love.  But those feelings can only come from a new heart!

And what are the actions that are sure to follow those feelings?

First action of course will be spending time with Him.  One on One!  He and I!  When we truly love someone, we want to spend time with them.  Lots of it!  Alone, one-on-one! 

And as a result of spending time with Him, we get to know Him, to know His heart.  And then, it will result in us wanting to please Him.  When we truly love somebody, we want with all of our heart to please them.  And then, we don't tell them of all the wonderful things we want to do for them.  We will want to do what we know pleases them.  In other words, we will OBEY them!  Their desires!

Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." 

For those of us who do not FEEL love for Jesus, here's a suggestion:  Pray and ask for it.  "Lord help me to love You.  Show me what You've done for me so I can love You".  And also remember that "to know Him is to love Him".  How do we get to KNOW Him?  By spending time with Him.  The more time we spend with somebody, the more we know them.

In the Song Of Solomon He beckons us, "My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away." He indeed is the LOVER of our soul and He desires that intimate fellowship with us!

Just one example from the Bible: Exodus 3:3-4 "Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight....” So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”" This has a deep meaning.  Moses made a conscious decision to "drop whatever he was doing" and make time to know the Lord.  And when the Lord saw his desire, He revealed Himself to him.  He will also honor our desires.  Want to know Him?  Want to love Him? Make time for Him!  You'll be richly rewarded.  My favorite quote of my pastor "God is equal opportunity!"

Are we going to "turn aside" today from our busy schedule and seek to know Him? Remember "the place where you stand is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5).  No need to look for a better place!  It's right where you are!  You will be richly rewarded!

To think about:  

Feelings that are not backed up by actions are not true love, they're just LUST! They're love of SELF! 

Actions that are not birthed in feelings of love, are LEGALISM!  Yes, we can perform actions without the feelings but, sooner or later, if we keep "working" for somebody we don't love, we will hate them! 

That's what the Pharisees did!  "Anything for God!  We'll keep the Sabbath, we'll tithe, we'll wear the long robes and make loooong prayers in public.......".  But they hated Him so much, they KILLED Him!  Think about it!

If you don't have a "secret place" yet, make one!  And remember, that could be anywhere you are!

In your bedroom, in the living room (I call mine "Loving Room") when all are asleep at night or when home alone, in your car, any place where you can be away from people, in peace and quiet.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God!..." "Knowing" refers to intimate relationship knowledge. 

May He give us a new heart, one that loves Him, enjoys His presence, desires to keep His commandments!

Until next time, LOVE HIM, SEEK HIM, while He may be found!

Natalia