Count the Ways

Mothers unconditionally love their children long before their child can return that love in tangible ways. Who can measure the power of the moment when a child first utters, "I love you, Mommy?"
   Just as a mom longs to hear her child utter those four simple words, God, who loves us far more than any human mother, wants to hear us say that we love him. A simple, "I love you, God" will do.
   But moms know that children must also show their love in tangible ways. Moms start by asking for obedience to simple commands like, "Hold Mommy's hand while we cross the street" and "Pick up your toys and put them away." These simple acts of obedience speak volumes.
   It's much the same with God. He asks us to walk in his ways, to hold his hand as we walk through life. He wants us to take time to be with him, conversing or just sitting in silence with him. We show him we love him by living at peace with our brothers and sisters and by showing love to all his children. Simple acts of kindness show God that we love him as he loves us-sacrificially.
   Children should also develop a healthy fear and respect for their moms. They know if they do something wrong, there will be consequences, such as time-out. God's children should have a reverential awe of him too. He is the great and mighty Lord of lords. His presence makes kings and armies tremble. And he is loving enough to discipline those he loves. If God has told you to take a personal time-out to reflect and repent, it's important that you take time to sit at his feet and pour out your heart.
   A good mother wouldn't feed her children junk food or put her children into dangerous situations. She wants her children to grow strong and healthy, so they'll live long lives. So, too, a child of God learns to discipline their spirit, mind and body, so as to become more Christlike. To avoid what he forbids so that they can stay strong. To eat what is good for their body and take in that which feeds their mind and spirit.
   Loving God is a choice that grows through continued acts of "obedience". Katherine Anne Porter observed, "Love must be learned again and again;there is no end to it." Choosing to love will please God, and it will bring joy to your life.
-Women's Devotional Bible

{Deuteronomy 10:12-13}

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.

13 And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

{Psalm 63:1-11}

1 O God, you are my God;

I earnestly search for you.

My soul thirsts for you;

my whole body longs for you

in this parched and weary land

where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in your sanctuary

and gazed upon your power and glory.

3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;

how I praise you!

4 I will praise you as long as I live,

lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.

I will praise you with songs of joy.

6 I lie awake thinking of you,

meditating on you through the night.

7 Because you are my helper,

I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

8 I cling to you;

your strong right hand holds me securely.

9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.

They will go down into the depths of the earth.

10 They will die by the sword

and become the food of jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God.

All who trust in him will praise him,

while liars will be silenced.

{Micah 6:6-8}

6 What can we bring to the Lord?

What kind of offerings should we give him?

Should we bow before God

with offerings of yearling calves?

7 Should we offer him thousands of rams

and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Should we sacrifice our firstborn children

to pay for our sins?

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,

and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God.

{Mark 12:28-34}

28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.

30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

32 The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other.

33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”

34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.