Jesus actually gave it as a commandment: Love God with all your heart, soul, and strength.
This was not a father giving the follow-the-rules speech or else. This was something different. He was saying that the soul of a man and a woman is primarily, primarily made for one thing: to love. To be enflamed with love. To be on fire with love. He made it a commandment because it's the one thing that a soul cannot live without: love, both giving and receiving. He made loving God a commandment because it's the one and only true thing that will satisfy the soul.
We can do everything possible to fill the soul, anesthetize the soul, busy the soul, distract the soul. But nothing will deeply satisfy until the soul is enflamed with love.
And not just any love. The first object of the soul's love, the primary affection of our heart that can cause our hearts to truly come alive, is God Himself. We are created to be intimate, passionate lovers of God. We are made for this. It's satisfying, it's enjoyable, it's being "in the zone" in a marvelous way.
So... why is my soul so readily seduced by lesser lovers? Why do I wallow around in my thoughts of needing this, wanting that, trying to get this done and accomplish that and ignore the One who is capable of bringing fiery life to heart?
Hey, it's a process. I don't have the answers. But I can, perhaps, allow the truth to sink in a little deeper... I was made for something incredibly wonderful... a relationship that can (and ultimately will forever) release my heart into what it's made for... romance/adventure/passion... of the most sacred kind.
(Inner Journey. Today's daily devotion. A devotional look at contemplation, lectio divina, and loving God. Interactive! Feel free to post comments!)
quite the useful tool to a journey deeper into truly accepting God's love-- not just in your mind-- but in your heart.
so many of use are afraid to get "emotionally attached" to God. I'm struggling to allow myself to.
Posted by: kt | May 22, 2006 at 10:20 PM
Dreamt last night I was going to a wedding and reception. I was looking for the right dress to wear. I found myself trying gowns on and wanting to wear white but not compete with the bride. it occured to me I too was the bride and the I wondered if my gown would be pleaseing to the groom. I realized the groom was the Lord of Righteousness, Jesus Christ. I wished I had a button I could push, a please-o-meter, that Indicated pleasing or not pleasing to the Lord. I woke up realizing it didn't matter if I had the button. The condition of my heart was right.
Posted by: smkyqtzxtl | October 18, 2006 at 03:25 AM
I have just finished rereading "Sacred Romance" and as usual it takes my breath away. My emotions have been bottled for years -- yet this book releases a hope in me that I return to -- realizing -- my only hope is to receive and give the love of God
Posted by: John Ford | July 12, 2007 at 05:24 AM