Pursuing Love

 

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.  You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.  This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God  is love. This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love:  not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us,  we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if  we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in  God. And so we know  and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in the world we are like him.  There is no fear in love.  But perfect loves drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  We love because he first loved us." I John  4:1-19

 

Have you ever been attracted to someone who did not know that you were alive?  Do you remember watching him/her, looking for ways to get their notice?  When we are infatuated with someone, we look for ways to be near them.  We get interested in what they are interested in. We try to go to places we think we might run into them.  We improve our appearance, get a new haircut or a new outfit, all in the name of love.  It is so rewarding when we realize that they return our feelings.  And so disheartening when we find out that they don't.

 

I wonder how long the Lord had his eye on you before you returned His affection? Perhaps you are still flirting with Him, but not sure you want to make a commitment.  No matter when you realized that you loved the Lord, He loved you first.  He has had a loving eye on you since you were a tiny speck in your mother's womb. He has watched every triumph and every failure.  He has cheered you to success and cried over your failures.  Even if you did not realize that He was there.  When we decide to love Him, it is only because He has wooed us, that we noticed  Him.  It is because He pursues us and watches for opportunities to make His presence known, that we know He is there.  We love Him, because He first loved us.  The invention of love what His idea, coming from His character to you.  And me.

 

In my early work years, I worked for Children & Families.  I noticed the saddest thing.  Some of the foster children were placed in loving homes, with doting parents who dearly wanted them.  They were showered with gifts, affection and expensive clothing.  Yet some of them still pined after their "good for nothing" parents.  The ones who sexually abused them, exploited them and raped them.  They longed to be reunited with the ones who drank up the grocery money and forgot to feed them.  What a slap in the face of those who were trying so much to make a home for them!  How about you?  Are you denying the Lord in favor of a cheap substitute?  Are you chasing an abuser rather than  receiving the love of One who has loved you from the start?

 

Thank you, Lord, for loving me first.  Thank you for loving me despite my filth and sin.  Help me to return Your love in a way that brings joy to Your heart.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Sherri