The world we live in sure is moving at a brisk pace.  In fact, I caught myself feeling as if I'd stepped out of bed onto moving ground multiple mornings this week.  I often feel as if there's 'just so much to do', and was actually becoming quite defeated in the midst of it all.  I wish I knew better how to catch myself before allowing life to get so carried away, but over and over I seem to fall prey to the same old traps.  I feel the need/desire to create, impact, impress, pursue, change, improve, succeed…. There is hope however.  An ever growing ability to hear that inner voice of the Holy Spirit calling me to rest.

I recently re-read The Divine Romance by Gene Edwards.  It is an allegorical telling of God's history from creation to resurrection.  It is told primarily from the perception of angles and God Himself as it all unfolds.  It truly is an amazing book, and I was deeply moved in my spirit as I read it again.  The thing that really struck me as I read it this time was just how much God loves us, and in fact has created us ultimately for one thing – Love.  We were created and designed not to build, create, design, impress, and accomplish.  Those things may be a healthy byproduct of our lives, but they will never satisfy.  That is because we were created for one simple yet mind blowing purpose… a love relationship with God Himself.  To love and to be loved… that's it!

This past week God really spoke into what was quickly becoming a very discouraged and melancholy heart.  The reminder that His deepest desire is to love me, and for me to love Him truly brought freedom and purpose in a moment.  The heaviness that had started to weigh me down was near instantly lifted again.  Matthew 6:33 began to fill my heart and mind again as I meditated on how important it is to 'seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness'.  In His faithful way, God spoke those words over me.  A beautiful thing happened as He did, and I found myself hearing them not merely as a commandment, but as an invitation.  They truly are an invitation.  An invitation to freedom and life.  An invitation to lay down the worries and expectations of this life in order to seek first a God who is able to perfectly care for them all.  Christ's words are an invitation to look into the eyes of God and know who we really are. 

Another commandment that is an invitation in much the same way is found in Matthew 22.  Jesus is asked "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?".  I think it's worth noting that this question is asked by a lawyer who was also a Pharisee.  No doubt he, like so many of us, was living a life overcome by the desire to impress, grow, succeed, produce…  It is out of that chaotic existence that this man asks a simple question that is met with the very invitation that God presented to me this week:

 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

   Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

   This is the first and great commandment.

   And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  

   On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22.36-40

God loves us so deeply.  In fact we were created for nothing less.  I pray that this reality speaks to the deeps of you as it did me this week.  I pray to that the truth of it continues to change, shape, and restore my life.