Loving Glory
Have you ever stopped to consider what it really means to LOVE the presence of God? I realize it is not February. You know the “love month” where we typically talk about all things related to love and relationships. In fact, it’s October. And all year long, we’ve been in dialogue about the glory of God.
So, why now would I release a blog entitled, “Loving Glory?” Wouldn’t it have seemed more logical to talk about loving God a little earlier than now?
Could it be, because we are constantly experiencing God’s presence in new ways, we now have new capacities to love Him in unprecedented ways we've known before?
I believe the more we encounter the glory of God, our love for God expands. This happens because of three specific truths:
1. God REFLECTS His love to us first.
In 1 John 4:19 (NKJV), it tells us, “We love Him because He first loved us.”The reality is, apart from God, we don’t even know how to love – Him, ourselves, and definitely other people. The Bible also says in 1 John 4:8, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
So often we take our cues from culture. We define that which is sacred by that which is secular. The problem is, the world will never be able to properly inform us on the issues of LOVE because LOVE only originates from God.
How beautiful it is to know that God loved us before we ever met Him. Before we knew ourselves, He knew us and loved us. He initiated Himself before we could ever fully understand or appreciate just what that means…just what He sacrificed through Jesus. This love God projects to us expands our capacity to love Him back, and to love Him more.
2. The REVELATION of His glory to us compels us to love Him.
How do you encounter glory and not feel completely breathless, speechless, and sometimes even motionless? It’s this feeling of being in awe and wonder of the glory of God that compels us to love Him. When we see this revelation through our countless times of fellowship with Him – rather it’s while doing the laundry and thinking about how great He is, or if down on our knees in a posture of worship – we understand more and more the holiness of His glory. This is truly remarkable.
Every place we go, every time we turn around, if we pay attention and look carefully, we are sure to witness the unveiling of God’s glory right before us. He is constantly revealing His glory to those whose hearts will receive Him. Even Psalm 19:1-3 explains, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language their voice is not heard.”
Despite the frailty of our humanity, God still permits us to receive revelation of His glory. Every time we see it, we should want to love God more.
3. The REALIZATION we share a love relationship with the Holy One.
The realization that I get to share a love relationship with God – the Holy One, the Creator, my Savior, my Lord, my Father and my best friend - is the most important reason I want to live each day. Whenever I think about who He is and who I am, I am overwhelmed by His love for me. The fact He wants to be in relationship with me stirs my spirit and soul in places only reserved for Him.
All of us must acknowledge at some point, there is a longing deep within that only God can satisfy. He placed it within us when He made us. When we attempt to be satisfied with other substitutions, it will always leave us feeling void.
Deuteronomy 7:9 reminds us, “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Our relationship with God is a privilege and should be our greatest priority. The closer we are to Him through our fellowship, the more our love for Him enlarges, elevates, and exudes.
Loving glory. What’s not to love? We can exhaust a lifetime here on earth and will never be able to fully contain His love for us. I think that deserves our life’s commitment to always seeking to love Him. Loving God means loving being with Him…his beautiful presence, His loving, glory.
