The Beauty of the Lord

The picture painted here is of a man completely in love with a woman. To him, she is “beautiful.” She is “my darling.” Confirming his devotion, he repeated, “How beautiful you are.”

While portraying human love, this also describes the kind of relationship we are to have with Jesus. We are to love Him just as this man loved this woman – devoted to Him, love being with Him, enraptured by His presence.

Love was so important to Jesus that He made this the focus of a critical dialogue with Peter after the resurrection. Three times He asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” After the third time, Peter responded strongly, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You” (John 21:15-17).

Jesus clearly wants to have a love relationship with each follower. It isn’t enough to be religious or a good person. He wants us to cultivate a love relationship with Him and to guard against this love fading away as we see in some places. We see this evidenced in the last days when “most people’s love will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). And He warned the church in Ephesus that they had left their “first love” (Revelation 2:4).

Think about your relationship with Jesus. Spend time alone with Him. He’s not a man from history; He’s alive! He loves you. Talk with Him. Listen to Him. Fellowship with Him. Fall more deeply in love with Him.