Many times, as we grow older as Christians, we have the tendency to feel "stuck in neutral.” We feel that we have grown all that we can and often wonder what the problem is. Many of us think that it is because we just don't love God enough. Perhaps, it is because we just don't understand, or we have forgotten how much he loves us. The reason we are alive is because God wants to love you. This is prophesy! Paul states, "As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" Rom 9:25
Yes, it is important to serve God, obey, and trust God, but our first purpose is to love God.“We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Love is always the first response to love. His love is demonstrated in His Son (Jn.3:16). How do you demonstrate your love? Yes....WORKS and FAITH are ways to demonstrate love, but is LOVE your first response (Jas.2:18)? When you say, “I don't love God,” it's because you don't understand just how much he really loves you.
God is love. Love is the essence of his nature. The only reason there is love in the universe is because of God. Ants and snails do not love, but you were made in God’s image, so you CAN love. Do you respond to God's love with thanksgiving (Rev.7:12)?
Often in our zeal to DO God's will, we often forget that we are to enjoy a relationship with God. We are to serve God with joy, happiness, love! It is the fruit of a thankful spirit (Gal.5:22), that has come to understand the love that God has given us. When I serve God from the position of love, then all other "fruits" of the spirit become automatic responses instead of chores.
Think about your current relationship with God. Has it become more about rules, regulations, and rituals than about love? Maybe it is time to give love a chance.
Jim
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