The Discipline of Adoring
2/28/06 

Has Jesus statement ever stumped you: "You shall love the Lord your God??" How can you love someone you have never seen?

You may have noticed that the current "Reflections on Transformation" articles focus on what are called spiritual disciples. Why exercise spiritually? One answer is that regular practice grows our love towards God whom we can not see yet are commanded to love. Furthermore, Jesus links loving others with loving God. The more we genuinely love God, the more we will love others. This is why Jesus first says love God and then also love your neighbor as yourself.

So, how do we develop a genuine love for God? There are many ways. I remain grateful to mentors long ago who clued me in to one way to grow my emotional love towards God using Scripture. As I read the Bible devotionally, passage by passage, I look for descriptions of God as revealed in Jesus. I may notice an adjective. More commonly, I look behind the action or the description to discover some aspect of God's character. I try to complete this phrase: "God (or Jesus), I love you and praise you because you are_____." I fill in the blank from what I've just read.

For instance, Jesus stilling the storms reveals much about God. Jesus shows us God who is compassionate, powerful and majestic, present, awe-evoking. At the same time, Jesus reveals a very human side and a care that is willing to confront. Any of these and more tell us something about God. I then tell God I love him and I tell God why I love him, based on the description in the passage.

Does this seem routine? It is. There are also many mornings (since I am a morning person) when I would prefer to stay in bed. However, over the decades, several results have occurred. My vocabulary about God has grown. My appreciation for God does not stay stuck on a few, well-rehearsed aspects of God's character. Most importantly for me, the telling of my love for God, almost daily, actually grows it emotionally. For instance, if I tell someone, such as my wife, day after day that I love her and I tell her why I love her, in so many different ways, I do know that my love for her grows and is reinforced. I experience loving feelings towards her. The same holds true with God. When I tell God I love him, my desire for God grows. My capacity to want to do his will enlarges and spills over into service.

God not only loves us. He gives us the privilege of loving in return. All praise to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

- Cliff Jones - Country Club Christian Church,Kansas City, MO