Love God

September 2010 Epistle Article
It’s the most important commandment, as was made clear by Jesus in Mark 12:29-30. But how does someone love a spiritual being that you’ve never physically seen, felt or heard? It’s seems to be a very abstract idea to love God when you really think about it, but as you think deeper, you might begin to realize that it’s no different than when you were courting your spouse. It begins with a constant longing to be with them, to talk with them, discover what makes them happy, and then to do those things for them. You might have written letters to each other or talked on the phone. You sought to spend every waking hour with them. Every moment with them was a blessing.
In the same way, we talk with God in prayer. Sometimes we formalize prayer a bit too much, and then we’re scared into thinking we’re not doing it right. Maybe you might have felt this way before you even begun your relationship with your significant other, but over time you became comfortable with them. It’s the same way with God. Just talk to Him at every moment of the day. There’s no real need to formalize it with ‘Dear God’ or end with ‘Amen’. Do you talk to your spouse like that… ‘Dear Jenny’. I really like how Josiah starts his prayers with ‘Hey God’. It may seem informal, but it’s not irreverent.
When Jen and I were separated by an ocean, we sent letters and emails to each other to keep in touch. I remember reading and pouring over those messages. Getting every bit of information I could from it. I read those letters multiple times. Do you read you Bible in the same way? Do you seek to know what pleases God? Do you want to know more about his character and personality? Do you want to hear how much he loves you?
Finally, when we seek to do things for one another, we bought gifts or made something special for them. Our words were backed by an action. Jesus says “If you love me, you will do what I command” and 1 John gives further instruction that when we love one another, we are loving God. How are you showing your love to God? Beyond the songs and prayers, what are you doing?
Thinking of loving God in these terms helps me to understand Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”. How can we love God with all of our being? Seek to make that the priority of your lives.
-Aaron