Know-Love-Obey God

Jump to Comments

Low-resolution photo:

High-resolution photo:

“You’re the best!”

“Thanks for everything!”

“I love you for all that you are!”

Give me love expressed in any way, and I’ll take it! Yet how much more valued would someone feel if the declarations are more specific—more detailed. At Secret Whispers we are in Song of Solomon 4, and Yvette speaks of how the lover makes his bride feel valued:

Behold, you are beautiful, my love,
behold, you are beautiful!
Your eyes are doves
behind your veil.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
leaping down the slopes of Gilead.

- Song of Solomon 4:1

His words are not merely vague generalities. How much deeper does love penetrate when we express it not in a fuzzy blur but with fine-line details! The recipient’s value becomes a sharp, clear picture. They know they are loved—nothing unclear about it!

We can do this with our children:
“Titus, that was nice of you to think of Derek. I like that!”

We can do this with our friends:
“I love how you converse with people. Just by watching, I can tell you are geniunely interested in them. You’re a great listener.”

We can do this with our parents:
“I really appreciated your advice on the car.”

We can do this with our colleagues:
“Your presentation gave me a better picture of the progress we’ve made. Thanks for the detailed data and charts.”

We can do this with our spouses:
(See Song of Solomon)

We can do this with God:

O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart…

Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours… Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all…

LORD, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin.

I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction…

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!

- 1 Kings 8:23-24; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Psalm 85:1-3; Psalm 116:1; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Revelation 4:8

When I love, when I praise God, I want to move from out-of-focus, general love to crystal-clear, specific love. Let there be no question about it!