Am I In Love?

Today my morning devotion had me in Psalm 119. Although what I was reading was emphasizing another point, the ending of verse 163 stood out to me: ...but thy law do I love.


I wondered to myself if I loved God's law. I know that I love God. I cherish the Word of God, and it's important to my daily life. Yet, did I love His commands and instruction?
 
When you love something, you have affection for it, you're enthusiastic about it, and you take delight in it. You take the time to get to know every inch of it. You get excited when you learn something new, and you can't wait to use or interact with whatever it is that has captured your heart.
 
Do I love God's commands according to the definition?
 
I certainly try my best to follow God's word. I do find joy in carrying out some of His instructions (Give and it shall be given..., Study to show yourself approved...). However, I know there are other parts of God's word that I do struggle to embrace wholeheartedly (Forgive and you shall be forgiven..., Pray for those who mistreat and abuse you...). Loving God's commands would mean that I would take delight in all of it, not just certain parts.
 
When you follow the instruction and principles that God's Word lays out, you cannot help but live a free and blessed life. His wisdom is beyond what we could fathom, and the results are certainly supernatural. What human would have ever come to the conclusion that giving to someone else would cause the giver to experience a greater blessing than the recipient?! Who could have figured that loving an enemy would bring peace to the abused?!
 
I love how God's ways take us to places of greatness. Yes, the journey may be difficult for our fleshly bodies to conform to, but the resulting benefits far outweigh the struggle.
 
So, does my loving the result mean that I inherently love the means? I have to think more on that. But I do admire David who was so enraptured with his God that he loved God's very instruction - and David lived before the grace and redemption of Christ!
 
What is your relationship with God's law? Do you love His commands? Or, do you just obey because that is what you know you have to do as a Christian?
 
Think about it as you go about your day today. Either way, make sure you thank God for His commandments and principles. If it wasn't for His instruction and wisdom, where would we all be?!
 
Verse of the Day: Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165