Joy of Loving Jesus

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Ever been in love? If so, you know what it means to be preoccupied. I met my wife Martie in the fall of our freshman year at college. It didn't take long for me to know that my heart had become hopelessly lost to her. When summer came, she went home to Cleveland, and I went on the road for 10 weeks with a team of musicians to represent our college.

We had a great summer. Our days were filled with exciting experiences, interesting places, and chances to meet all kinds of people. But no matter how new and exciting the trip, my mind kept returning to Martie. I hoped there would be a letter from her at the next church, and that she would be at home when I called. I wondered where she was, what she was doing, and what we’d be doing if we were together. I looked forward to the joy we would experience when we were together again.

It’s like that for those of us who are developing an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus. Though busy in our daily routines, we find that He increasingly becomes the backdrop to all of life. We love to hear from Him in His Word, where we find out more about Him and about what He wants us to know. We are thrilled to learn about Him and His ways, and we listen carefully to His direction for our lives. We increasingly enjoy times of prayer, as we speak with Him and sense His communication with us. And we find ourselves longing for the day we will see him face-to-face.

Loving Jesus is not an escape from life, nor is it a brief encounter on some monastic retr eat. It’s the joy of staying in touch and the pleasure of knowing that regardless of what a day may bring, the best day is still to come.

YOUR JOURNEY…

• What people, places, or things occupy your heart? In what ways can you keep them from eclipsing your love for Jesus?
• How have you experienced the joy of spending time with Him recently?
• How are you doing in your love relationship with Jesus? What joy has He brought to your heart this day?

Adapted from an article originally written for the Our Journey devotional guide.