When we love someone, we don’t give up in trying to pursue a relationship. Or maybe a different kind of love, so that we pursue friendship. Not saying those of the opposite sex shouldn’t be careful here, and certainly guard their hearts, unless of course they’re both single.
Love for God is something of the same. If we love God and the things of God, we will want to pursue this for all its worth. In this case worth all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We won’t give up, no matter how dark or torn the soul.
Sometimes though it seems that in this pursuit we are weak. We may want to pursue this love to the max, but some weakness plagues us. Could be a sin, or some issue that is not resolved. Maybe a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment us.
And yet that love that God has poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit he has given us, won’t settle for some lesser love. Not meaning we don’t love our neighbors, and those close to us. In fact love for God enhances that.
The blessing of times when we’re struggling is that we see how highly we value the treasure we’re pursuing. In this case the highest treasure of all, God’s love in and through Christ.
Love does not give up. It won’t settle for anything less than fulfillment. In this case it is a love from God which is destined not only to overtake us in and through Jesus, but destined to overtake the world. And in significant part that begins now through us in Jesus. Even in the midst of our struggles. God’s love in Jesus through us to and for others, indeed for the world. As we share together in God’s love in Jesus.
Ted M. Gossard
