I went to China to fall in love.
Looking back, that’s easy to see, although I didn’t know it going in.
I knew China would be a significant month for me, and I supposed the
Lord would give me a supernatural, overwhelming love for the Chinese
people. He did fill me with love for them, but I didn’t fall in love
with them. He did give me a new love for my teammates as I watched
them come alive. But I didn’t fall in love with them either.
Looking back, that’s easy to see, although I didn’t know it going in.
I knew China would be a significant month for me, and I supposed the
Lord would give me a supernatural, overwhelming love for the Chinese
people. He did fill me with love for them, but I didn’t fall in love
with them. He did give me a new love for my teammates as I watched
them come alive. But I didn’t fall in love with them either.
I fell in love with Jesus. The Jesus I’ve known and loved since before I could say the words. But somehow this was different.
Because I realized that He loves me. Yeah, yeah, Jesus loves me this I know and all that business. But He also desires me. He pursues me. He longs to take me into His chamber and shower me with His love. And this month, I began to get a glimpse of that.
“show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.”
Song of Solomon 2:14
I read this, desperate to see the Lord’s face, to know His voice more.
I cried out for this. And then I looked closer and read it again. And
realized this was the Bridegroom speaking to His Bride. This is HIS
desire. As desperate as I was to know the Lord, He is even more
desperate to know me. And until I really know this, I can never love
Him more. Because our feelings for God are only a reflection of how we
understand His love for us.
So what did I do in China? I fell in love with Jesus. The Jesus who pursues me recklessly, foolishly, completely, whole-heartedly. The Jesus who is delighted by me, who is ravished by me and who longs for intimacy with me.
“show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.”
Song of Solomon 2:14
I read this, desperate to see the Lord’s face, to know His voice more.
I cried out for this. And then I looked closer and read it again. And
realized this was the Bridegroom speaking to His Bride. This is HIS
desire. As desperate as I was to know the Lord, He is even more
desperate to know me. And until I really know this, I can never love
Him more. Because our feelings for God are only a reflection of how we
understand His love for us.
So what did I do in China? I fell in love with Jesus. The Jesus who pursues me recklessly, foolishly, completely, whole-heartedly. The Jesus who is delighted by me, who is ravished by me and who longs for intimacy with me.
