Source of Strength
Posted 3/27/2002 2:50:02 PM
If we're to love God with all our strength, how long can that last? Our own determination and energy run out, and then we fall short of the command. How can we maintain an all-out love for God, as He wants?
The short answer is that it has to come from God. To love God with all our strength, we have to love Him with the strength He gives us! This gets interesting, because they're directly related: Ja 4:8
- The more we love God, the stronger our relationship is with Him, and our spiritual lives are strengthened, growing toward more love.
- The less we love God, the weaker our relationship is with Him, and our spiritual lives grow weaker, making loving Him more of a struggle.
The only way to break up a downward spiral is to wait on God Is 40:31. Not only does he promise to strengthen us, his strength sustains long term: running without weariness and walking without growing faint. His strength goes right through to the inner man by His Spirit Eph 3:16, which grows us toward patience and longsuffering with joyfulness Col 1:11.
What does it mean to wait on God? Try Da 11:32, "the people that do know their God shall be strong." David tells his son Solomon to also "serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of thee." John starts with the basics 1Jo 2:3-4, just like all children have to learn: obedience to His commandments.
To simplify:
- Obey
- Willingness
- Knowledge
Step four isn't love; each of these steps produces love for God, just in different ways and different amounts. But, this makes it clear that though God gives us strength, we have to make the decision to obey Him, seek after Him, and know Him. He leaves the choice to us.
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