Madly in Love

"When you are truly in love, you go to great lengths to be with the one you love. You'll drive for hours to be together, even if it's only for a short while. You don't mind staying up late to talk. Walking in the rain is romantic, not annoying. You'll willingly spend a small fortune on the one you're crazy about. When you are apart from each other, it's painful, even miserable. He or she is all you think about; you jump at any chance to be together."  

-Frances Chan Crazy Love page 100

"The critical question for our generation-and for every generation-is this; If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven. If Christ was not there?"

-Frances Chan in Crazy Love page 100 quoting John Piper's book God Is the Gospel.

Both of these quotes are from the chapter we discussed today in small group from the book Crazy Love. I think that they are both really awesome points to think about as I live my life and my relationship with Christ. The first quote really challenges me to want to have that kind of relationship with Jesus. I think there are times in my life, especially in high school and middle school where I truly was that in love. But as I moved on and school, work, etc. has gotten in the way and life's just gotten so hectic. I've fallen out of that love. This book, especially this chapter has really challenged me to have that type of relationship with Jesus. The kind where it's actually a relationship, not me just talking and asking for things. Right now Jesus gets my time right before I go to bed when I'm exhausted and falling asleep. Which isn't fair. I want to be able to listen and respond to God. As I continue in this next few weeks I want to really understand what it's like to fall madly in love with Jesus.

The second quote from John Piper is also very challenging. When I read that description of heaven at first I'm like 'Wow! I can't wait to go there!" then I read the part about Christ not being there, and I have to take a step back and ask myself, 'Would I really be ok with that?' Honestly, right now in my life I probably would be ok with it, because I'm not madly in love with Christ. It also makes me sad to read and really understand that I maybe ok with that and the more I think about it the less ok I am with it. I'm not really sure if this is making sense, but it's how I'm processing things right now. Overall, I want to want Christ in heaven with me no matter what else is there. I want to be so in love with Christ that nothing else about heaven matters, but being in His presence. 

I think it's ok that right now I'm being honest to myself and to God in saying that I don't have this relationship right now. But I think it's good that I want this relationship. I want to fall madly in love and I need God's help to do that. I could never fall that much in love without Him and that's a humbling and amazing thing to think about.

I challenge you to read these two quotes from the book and really think about and ponder them. What do they mean to you? Are you madly in love with Christ, or do you still have a ways to go?