GOD WANTS YOU TO LOVE HIM.

“He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27(NIV)

What do you get for the person who has everything? That was the question for us last month when my wife and I were confronted with the challenge of purchasing a Christmas gift for some family friends who seems to have everything. Even if they don’t have everything, they are in a financial position to purchase whatever they want.

So, I tried to get creative. I would come up with what I thought would be a great gift, and then my wife would inform me that they already have it. We even tried to think of some restaurants to purchase them a gift card from, but they had already been to all those restaurants.

We finally settled on an unusual trinket. We weren’t sure if it was a good choice, but we took a chance. Turns out we hit the nail on the head. They loved the gift…Whew!! We did it.

I have to be honest, sometimes I feel this way about God. What can I give Him, the God who created the entire universe? Is there anything I could give Him that He doesn’t already have? Well, yes, actually. I can give Him my love. This is the one thing He wants from us. He wants us to love Him, He wants us to talk with Him, and He wants to communicate with us as well.

We often make the mistake of thinking God is far off and distant. The opposite is true. He is right with us, and He desires a close relationship with each of us.

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17 (NIV)

THINK ABOUT IT…

  • What does this devotional reveal to me about God?

  • What does this devotional reveal to me about myself?

  • Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

  • What is my prayer for today?