Hosanna Restoration Church

When did your relationship turn to love? This was a question in my mind as I considered the love of God. We all want the love of God. Even those who do not believe in God really do want His love; they just have not figured it out yet. For sure, no one wants the wrath of God!
Still, the question must be answered; when did you start loving God? I know that I did not come to God through Christ in a love move. I came in a reality check. As I have said before, I walked into a Bible study drunk, stoned, and high. I worked at it all day. It was foolish of course, but I was in a war that I did not know about. Suddenly, I found myself straight, sober, and afraid. Everything I thought I knew; I now knew was wrong. I was now on a quest to know God better.
I knew that there must be more to Him. Well as I considered this, the songs that the Lord poured through me became my guide. First it was Lord here I am…take me and mold me, hold me, and show me the way. Then there was a song asking what good does it do to love Jesus if you are the only one you let know. I know it still was not love at that point. In fact I really failed to catch the point of the song. I knew I had to share, but I only wanted to share what He did for me I still was not necessarily in love.
In time it moved to, “for so long I lived without you, now all I do is think about you…Lord please use me. I called Him daddy in that song but love was still coming. Then one day in worship came the shift and, “Lord I love you, I don’t want to live without you, there is no life without you” poured out of me. I believe that is where the shift happened for me. I was no longer learning about Him or talking about Him, I came to love Him and that was a new place in Christ.
It is important for all of us. Do we love Jesus? Remember when Jesus came to Peter? He did not ask him if he would obey him or if he was sorry for denying him or anything like that; He asked Peter if he loved Him.
I wish I could say that I experience love at first sight with Jesus. No doubt there was a beginning of love, but not anything remarkable. The drastic changes were great but love made them last. I am quite certain that without the love I would have perhaps remained changed in some areas but ultimately lukewarm at best in my relationship with Jesus.
Love makes us takers of His goodness. It makes us needy for more of Him. Later came a song that said, “I need you. I love you. I want you more.” We can know we need Him when there is a need and forget Him when there isn’t one, but love won’t let us forget Him. Love keeps us wanting Him. So today, consider the love shift. When did it happen? Is love growing?