Pure Joy: 7 Devotions in the Book of JamesSample

Falling in Love with God

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. JAMES 1:12 THE MESSAGE

To be in love with God—what could those words really mean? God is, without a doubt, in love with us. Wouldn’t we want to be in love with Him too? After all that He’s done for us?

But even when we’ve embraced Christ as Friend and Redeemer, how does one actually go about loving Him? Is it easy or complex? Is it awesome or a bit scary? We know how to love a spouse, a child, and our friends. But what does this love for our God actually look like? Feel like? These are questions worth chasing. Maybe this miraculous process starts as a divine stirring deep in one’s soul, as we curiously crave to know our Lord better, deeper. Then when we spend enough time in His presence, we begin to hear His loving, challenging, inspiring, illuminating, forgiving whispers and feel some of that profound peace we are promised in His Word. And also, in this ongoing creative, incandescent, and irresistible presence of our Lord, well, love happens.

Other ways we can love God is by enduring trials with patience, not giving in to temptations, and being obedient in what He asks us to do. Jesus told us, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them” (John 14:21 NLT).

And so, what comes from all this mutual love with our Lord Jesus? Well, we will be blessed, and in the book of John, Christ promises to reveal Himself to us. And oh my, in those intimate moments with our Savior— joy arrives.

Dear God, I am in awe of who You are. I want to learn to love You the way You deserve to be loved. Show me how. Not because I want to earn my way to heaven, but in grateful response to Your offering of grace, mercy, and forgiveness! In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.