What You Value Is What You'll Have [Love of God] - Part 2

Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30).

Why did He place this command as the greatest above all other things? Although we can find various reasons, the reality is that if someone places this value as the most important principle in his or her life, then he or she will be ready to make any adjustment (adjustment) the Lord asks for. When things become difficult in marriage and a change is needed from us, our first reaction certainly will not be willingness. We will feel it is unfair if we are the ones who have to change, or too painful for us to change. At moments like these, it becomes very easy to choose to follow our own ego.

But if there is an awareness that in the end the One before us is God, then we will submit to this reality and to a higher calling (higher calling), namely for us to grow toward greater maturity. So that in the end, the relationship (relationship) will win.

An example of this is a married couple who became Dr. Cloud's patients:

When this couple came before Dr. Cloud, they were already ready to divorce. Their hope in each other had vanished. There was nothing left.

Dr. Cloud asked, "Do you still have hope for this marriage?"

"No, we don't," they both admitted.

Then Dr. Cloud said, "Good! That means there is something we can work on here."

"What do you mean?" they asked in confusion.

What they did not realize was that Dr. Cloud knew that both of them were people who loved God. Although both were ready to leave each other, they would never be ready to ignore God. Dr. Cloud believed that their faith in God would save the marriage.

"My thought is that you are both deeply disappointed in each other. In reality, there really is not enough love left to hold you together. And I am glad you admit that. But I also know something else about you. Your love for God is enough to make the changes He wants you to make. If you are willing in this matter, then it will be enough to save your marriage. Are you willing to commit to making whatever changes God wants in this process?" Both of them agreed, even in the midst of hopelessness.

In the process, this couple learned something. For the wife, when she was ready to judge her husband and remembered that this was not in line with God's will...in the end she yielded and chose to submit to God's will. Likewise the husband, when he was ready to attack his wife with sarcasm when he was angry...he remembered that someone higher was asking him to exercise self-control. In the end, he bit his tongue so those words would not be spoken.

At other times, when the husband felt impatient listening to his wife's complaints because he hated conflict...he remembered that God wanted him to become a gentler person. So in the end he decided to listen to his wife and not react defensively. Previously, he would have avoided his wife and turned to his hobby instead.

In addition, the wife also realized that she had fear and bitterness in her heart that she had long been taking out on her husband. She learned to take ownership of what she was feeling and learned not to blame her husband. Then, to take responsibility for dealing with those things. In the end, she became a healthier person.

About a year passed, and this couple returned looking like a different couple. They did character work very well!

The wife was cheerful like a teenage girl, "We are so happy! This is why I married him in the first place. I never imagined that we could arrive at this point."

"I can't believe what I've been missing all this time!," her husband continued. "I so enjoy being with her. There is nothing else-including work-that makes me happier to pour all the energy I have into than being with her."

In the end, true love was born in this couple, something they thought a year earlier they would never feel. This is the fruit of "loving God." Love for God strengthens us to make changes. He tells us how to change through His Word.

Love God, first of all with your heart, mind, soul, and all your strength.

*Church GKDI is currently present in 35 cities. We have Bible Study activities in every area; if you need information or would like to get involved, contact us at Church GKDI Official: WhatsApp 0821 2285 8686 or Facebook / Instagram GKDI Official

"...and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39b)