Love

        Love.  An interesting commodity, this thing we call love.  It can’t be caught, bought, or sold.  Yet, it is more sought after than anything else.  Its value is immeasurable, exceeding the most precious of metals and jewels.  However, it is something that each of us possess.  Even though we cannot sell it, we can give it.  To offer our love to another is perhaps the most exciting thing we can do.  In loving we open ourselves up to be hurt, as well as, to reap joy beyond comprehension.

        The Bible tells us that if we do not love, we do not know God, for He is love.  Understand the concept being put forth.  It is not in our being loved that we know God.  Rather, it is in our loving others that we know God.  He is our guiding principle in this matter.  He loves us without our loving Him.  It has been His eternal goal to love mankind with the deepest of all loves.  His love has never been dependent upon reciprocation.  Indeed, He loves us while we are yet His enemy.  However, it is only in our loving Him that we can truly appreciate the fullness of His love.

        Do you think it is unreasonable to assume the principle of Divine love is the same love we can enjoy as humans?  Think about it.  Can we not also love others who do not love us?  Of course, we have the capacity to do so.  We just don’t often choose to exercise that privilege.  And yet, it is well within our power to choose to love anyone.  When we make that choice, we must do so with commitment.  Otherwise, our love would be weak and pretty useless.  When we do make that commitment, we open ourselves up to heavenly treasures.  You see, God does not do that which is foolish or without a purpose pleasing to Himself.  Therefore, when we follow His example, committing to love as He does, we too are not acting foolishly or without a purpose.  The pleasure is in doing, not necessarily in receiving.  Although, it does seem to be a benefit of loving – that is, receiving.  But, our loving should never depend upon getting it in return.  We should, rather, relish in the opportunity to give that which God has so graciously given us.

Why not God?

I have lived a blessed life, one full of success, joys and happiness.  How many are able to say that after a childhood filled with poverty, tragedy and abuse?  As I begin this journal filled with random thoughts I would like to first of all recognize the God who has lifted me and set me on the heights of glory that can only come from Him.  There are those, known to me and unknown, who don’t believe.  It is difficult for me to fully understand their unbelief.  When I consider the miracle of life, the complexities of the universe, and the wonders of creation, it defies reason that anyone would willingly choose to not give credit where credit is due.  There is only one explanation for enormity of all existence.  That a supreme being would choose to set all of this in motion and then offer eternal life to those who believe is in the extreme.  We should honor Him each and every day of our lives.

For those of us who believe, perhaps the question we should be asking non-believers is, "Why not God?"  What could we possibly gain by not believing?  What benefits are there in being without faith?  For the life of me, I can find no good reason for not believing in God.  However, the benefits of faith are too numerous to list.  Can a non-believer say that about their lack of faith?