Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV
In 1958, the short-lived group The Teddy Bears released the classic song "To Know Him is to Love Him."
To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him
Just to see him smile, makes my life worthwhile
To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him
And I do (and I do, and I, and I do, and I, and I do, and I, and I do, and I)
Though it's very doubtful Phil Spector had God in mind when he penned the tune, it does have a theological undertone. To love God as we should, we must first know him.
In human relationships, getting to know someone else is also coming to understand ourselves. Who are they? Who are we? Why do we feel the way we do? Sometimes, the process is painful, and at other times, it is healing. Added to this is that love is not a fixed state but a continual evolution. We are in the process of learning to love more perfectly.
In our relationship with God, we are imperfect lovers seeking to comprehend His perfect love. When we evaluate ourselves in the mirror of Christ, we recognize where we are and where we want to be, and we see glimpses of a future state where we love God with all our heart, soul, and strength.
By studying His word and conversing with Him, we come to know Him and love Him. As we align ourselves with Him, we learn to love others and ourselves more perfectly.
Father of perfect love, thank you for sending your Son as our example and the Holy Spirit as our guide. As we study your word, open our minds to understanding. In our prayers, open our ears to listening. Help us to know you so we might love you more perfectly. May your love shine through us to others. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
