Obsessed by a Crazy Love

I've been reading a great little book packed from cover to cover with huge truths. It's called Crazy Love Overwhelmed By A Relentless God by Francis Chan. It really has me thinking about my everyday thoughts and actions and challenges me to truly evaluate my priorities and how I spend my time, money and talents.

I could review each chapter, but that would take too long so I will summarize with the main points from Chapter 8. He's talking about what a person looks like who is truly in love and obsessed with Jesus. His question, "Do you love this God who is everything, or do you just love everything He gives you?" really hit home with me. I really DO love everything he gives me and I regularly practice thankfulness. But if I'm honest, I have a really hard time admitting that I'm head over heels in love with Him. How do we accomplish that? That's just it.

We can't. We can't accomplish it.

"Something mysterious , even supernatural must happen in order for genuine love for God to grow in our hearts. The Holy Spirit has to move in our lives." (Chap 6)

When we don't feel like we love Him we can pray that He will change us and help us to. James 4:8 says, "Come near to God and He will come near to you..."

When we pray, He will give us the ability to love more. This makes us pray more. This in turn will cause us to love even more!

I am trying to get into this cycle. Not on my own strength, but letting him change me. I have (no He has) a lot of changing of me to do...


(From Chapter 8) People who are obsessed with Jesus...

• give freely and openly without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.

• aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.

• live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was so important to Him (1 John 2:4-6; Matt. 16:24-26).
  

• are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. As Martin Luther put it, "There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day" (Luke 14:25-35; Matt. 7:13-23; 8:18-22; Rev. 3:1-6).
  

• knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be "humble enough," and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known (Matt. 5:16).
  

• do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His people (Matt 13:44; John 15:8).
  

• are known givers, not takers. Obsessed people generally think that others matter as much as they do, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world (James 2:14-26).
  

• thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.

• is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being.

• are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures. Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place where they can be at peace.

• have an intimate relationship with Him. They are nourished by God's Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week, especially when they will encounter so many distractions and alternative messages.

• is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God (James 1:2-4).

• knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying, "Thank You!" to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy. He revels in his role as a child and friend of God.

Wow! I'm not even close to being obsessed. I fall so short!

But isn't that the point?

We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

Praise God for a Savior who loves me anyway. It's amazing that He would love and forgive me again and again and even more so to call me His friend!

I feel like I'm just scratching the surface in discovering who my God is and what He has done. I feel so ashamed for all the times I have elevated the things and people in this life He's given me to a place much higher than it should ever go.

I am thankful for what he's blessed me with. So thankful!

But I desire more. I know there is so much more!

I want to know Him deeper. I want an intimate relationship with God and no amount of me trying to love Him more will help. Only a complete dependence on Him. It involves praying, spending time in and memorizing His Word and mulling it over throughout the day. And on most days (at least right now) when I don't feel like stopping to do these things, I know I can pray that God will give me the desire, the obsession, to do them and show me a love that I could never comprehend....

A crazy, relentless, all powerful love unlike any other I've ever experienced.