This is a popular time of year to show all types of young love stories, via Netflix, Hallmark Channel or another cable channel. Seems like if you have seen one of these romantic movies, you have seen the same storyline in all of them. Let’s see if I’ve got this right. A young man is attracted to young lady through a shared girlfriend of one of them. The interested pursuer is initially rejected for another boyfriend or because of past hurt. At some point the young woman comes to her senses and realizes that real love has been in front of her the whole time. And just before it’s too late, they “find” each other and start a wonderful “true love” romance. This amazing “true love” that they share is attractive and is the envy of all of those around them. Fade to black - run credits.

Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Ps. 112:1

The meaning in the original language of the word “blessed” is a person in a state of bliss, truly happy. The word picture is of an individual who others find attractive and “to be envied” because of their joy. The picture is like young love, a couple enjoying life and the thrills of having “fallen in love.” This passage describesone who has fallen in love with God and can’t imagine life without Him.

When you fall in love you naturally honor and respect. You take pleasure in bringing joy to the object of your love. It’s not a chore or duty to do that which pleases and values them. You take delight in doing life with them in a way that fosters a greater relationship, thus obeying, listening and seeking to understand how to fulfill them even more.

So I suggest to you that if you had are having a difficult time obeying the commands and ways of the Lord Jesus Christ, it’s most likely a love problem. You may have lost sight of the amazing love he has poured upon each of us through forgiveness, grace, the deposit of the Holy Spirit, and an eternity without sickness, pain or torment. You may need to recapture his love for you and give thanks for it and find fresh delight in who he is, and all that he has done. You might not see this displayed on the Hallmark Channel, but this love relationship is a continual theme in scripture and in the teachings of Jesus. For God so loved…