When the work day was done, I was done.
That left over five hours per day to do whatever the hell I wanted.
You know what I did with that time?
Absolutely nothing.
Sure there were times when I was productive, but I spent most nights seeing how much television I could cram into my brain. (Ask me anything about the television show Still Standing. I dare you.)
I used my excess time like many sports stars use their newfound wealth: flushing cash on jewelry for their dog and on expensive vehicles they'll never drive.
Now that time is scarce, I (try to) make better use of what's available.
You see, when something is in high supply we tend to take it for granted. We tend to waste it.
Right or wrong it's what we do.
The reverse is also true. Things in low supply are valued. Why is gold worth anything? Basically because there isn't much of it; it has very little intrinsic value other than that fact that it looks pretty.
This phenomenon helps explain why so many people don't value the love God has for us:
It is never ceasing, never in short supply, never on back order.
Us humans, used to a finite and seemingly closed system, cannot understand an infinite love. So we abuse it, misuse it, undervalue it, waste it.
Were this a romantic relationship, we would totally understand if the scorned and abused partner decided to pack up and abandon the relationship, divorcing himself from the other.
In fact, we would kind of expect it.
Yet God is a patient God.
His love for us is not like any other.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
And while God's love for us is boundless, because we have free will God will not force us to love him.
Is forced love, love?
No. Instead it is rape or robotics, one.
God desperately wants us to love Him back so much that he sent His son to redeem us from our destiny of death (Gen. 2:17). This isn't because He needs love, but because He wants to share His goodness with us.
But He is not interested in a casual relationship; He wants commitment.
Just like a marriage, we must enter into a covenant with Christ.
This is what Jesus meant when he said:
This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. Luke 22:20 (NLT)
Jesus rescued us from death—by His blood—because of His love for us.
There is nothing more romantic than that.
Christ gave His all, which is why He wants you to do the same.
Because until we commit to the relationship—until we sign that marriage certificate—we will always take God's love for granted.
What steps can we take to commit ourselves to Christ?
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