There are things that belong to me by right and are available at any time, always. These are air, water, sunlight, and warmth. I don't have to beg for them. They are mine by the fact of creation and support my life activity.
There are things that I choose for myself according to my taste. These are nutrition, clothing, place of residence, place of work. There are exceptions in this row because I can be given something I don't want, so against my will, you have not what you want. After all, sometimes there's simply nowhere to go.
Some benefits I can possess, and I may not have them, for example, a life partner, children, a vehicle, things for a comfortable life, excess finances, means of communication. I have the opportunity to choose and regulate my attitude towards them.
All of the above fills my physical life. I get used to it and arrange my comfort.
But I am not only a physical being, I have a soul and spirit that need spiritual nourishment and saturation. They are not satisfied with the presence of things and comfort, they need spiritual bread that satisfies spiritual needs. Some people fill such a need with poison for the body - coffee, black tea, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, pornography, and other things that defile the mind and soul. And in this way, a person kills himself. Some seek solace in music, entertainment, tourism, travel, philosophy, hobbies, religion, and find what satisfies them.
Not every religion is beneficial to a person, but it still contains elements of truth and goodness, comfort, and fulfillment of spiritual needs.
The soul seeks God, it cannot live without Him. It was created for communion with the Creator, and until the soul finds God's way, it will yearn, rush about, be sick. It needs God, real, genuine.
And God gives the opportunity to know Him. He reveals Himself to everyone who finds Him. The Creator fills the life of such a person with meaning. But even in this knowledge, there are things that belong to me by right and are added automatically, but there are others that are not available to me just like that. They need to be asked for and can only be possessed under certain conditions. And there are such gifts that need to be begged for with all one's human nature, having a real thirst for knowing and receiving them. There are talents that God gives at His discretion for service in the church. There are also such benefits that a believer can acquire only by convincing God that they are really necessary, and that without them this person does not intend to live further.
Not everything is so easily given to the believer, although there are no restrictions in God's goodness.
Love is something familiar to any person, and everyone has experienced its influence on themselves at some point, but at the same time, no one has it enough to give constantly or live in it without encountering resistance.
Agape love is probably what God most wants to give to His people, but they least want to have or receive it.
When I embark on the path of life with God, then I am given God's protection, God's blessing for every day, God's protection from evil, gifts for ministry are handed over, revelations and wisdom for knowing the truth are sent, a lot is given and free of charge, because God loves me very much. But there are blessings that I must ask for. These are special gifts, special revelations, special miracles in my life and the lives of my neighbors, this is unique wisdom and strength. And God rewards me with this only through prayer and through His love for me.
But God's biggest dream is to give Himself and a close relationship with Himself. And the Lord clothed this dream in agape. He offers it in the form of symbols. Never in the history of Christianity has God been so close and accessible as in our days, in the period of Laodicea. He knows that without Him no one will stand, but at the same time, He modestly awaits thirsty souls who are genuinely interested in Him and in a special relationship with His Son Jesus. God is waiting for those who strive for communion, and on whom He can pour out His Spirit. God is alive, and He wants to be friends with me, to have a deep relationship with me, but this also requires my participation. And it's not just about an invitation, but about my sincere interest in the Lord.
Jesus comes to everyone and responds to any invitation. And then, after communicating, He gets up and leaves. Christ does this not because He wants to leave me, but because He does not like to be where He is not needed. And for Him to stay, it is necessary to convince Him of this. Perhaps this sounds funny, but God understands us very well. He respects our freedom. He is not offended when He sees that He is not needed, but waits for the next invitation to enter and communicate again. And then once again He gets up and leaves, and does it reluctantly. But there's no other way.
Agape is what reveals to me the beauty of God's character and attaches me to the Lord so much that I cannot live without Him. I need Him always, and not as a Guest, but as a Friend, as the Lord, as One who has become part of my life, as my Spouse. These are special relationships, but they are also conditional. And they depend on my daily choice. But love glues us together so much that I simply cannot imagine life without it. And it draws me to special relationships with others. And sometimes I fall in love so much with those who are near, whom I see, that I'm afraid if I have lost God in this, if I have come to love Him even less. But He dispels my fears and convinces me that it is not I, but He in me who loves my friends and teaches the right relationships with them and towards them. And I rejoice and thank. But I cannot be intrusive even towards those I love. I get up and leave, very much wanting to stay, but I respect the freedom and choice of my friends. Although humanly, I always make it clear that I am available and not so far from them.
But I am human. I can be busy, I can be only with my wife and not go anywhere. And I hope for understanding. But God is always available, He is never so busy that He cannot be with me. Although sometimes He needs to be convinced that I need His special love, that I want to have it, but in this too is His will for me. The most valuable things He does not give just like that, but sends them with joy to people who seek, who ask, who thirst. God gives them in great abundance.
I began to ask for love just to not perish in vanity and survive, and He gave it to me to always win and win any battle. I thought that with this gift I could only endure others, but I began to admire and admire them. I thought I would be inconspicuous, but the Lord puts me on top of a mountain to be a light. He sends me to Nineveh, and I run to Tarshish, then He sends a storm and swallows me into darkness. I repent and go where I should be.
Miracles of grace are happening all around, and I get used to them and no longer know another life.
How interesting and beautiful it is to live in love, to have it and to have access to an unlimited arsenal of this God's power. I am friends with the One who is above all. And this is the best thing one can wish for everyone.
To love is to live with meaning. It is connecting to a Heavenly source of energy that begins to act when I press the "Start" button.
Dear friend, fill your life with meaning too. Jesus is alive, and He is near to adorn your existence with something beautiful and joyful. And He loves you very much and respects your choice. Jesus is waiting, has been waiting for a very long time.
Questions for reflection on this chapter:
1. Please read Luke 11:9; Hebrews 4:15-16; Luke 10:2-3; John 16:24,26-27; James 4:2-3; Jeremiah 29:12-13; 2 Chronicles 7:14; John 7:37-38; Luke 26:16; 2 Chronicles 15:15; Romans 12:11 in light of this chapter.
2. Why does the human soul need God?
3. What does life with God give you?
4. What gift has the Lord prepared for you?
5. What does the Lord expect from you?
6. Name the advantages of those who are friends with God?
7. Why doesn't God want to share His love in us with anyone?