Elizabeth Barrett Browning penned the sonnet - How do I love thee, let me count the ways. In fourteen lines she spelled out her thoughts on how to love - ending with - if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. These first few lines are quoted very often - most not realizing that she brought God into the picture at the end. All of us love - in various and different ways. We love different things - people - pets - jobs - sports - music - the arts - money - God. Sad to say when asked what they love all too many will mention those listed above - usually leaving out God. Love is an intangible that cannot be seen - smelled - felt - touched - a feeling that evades some - a decision by most - held only in one's mind - heart. In today's scripture in Hosea 6:6 we are told - For it is love that I desire - not sacrifice.
Continuing our Lenten journey - we should all spend time meditating on these words - what it means - God desires love - not sacrifice - especially when we are asked in Lent to give up - to sacrifice. When we give up - do we long for that which we are depriving ourselves - more than we love God? Are our sacrifices seen as a punishment - for what we have done wrong - or a gift to God - showering our sacrificial love upon Him - His Son - reflecting on God's gift to us in Jesus - the sacrifice He made of His Son - that we could be set free from sin - to live a life of fullness. When God looks into your eyes - does He see sadness - the loss you feel of your sacrifice - or does He see the love that you have for Him? God alone posses agape love - a love unknown to humans - a love that forgives everything you ever did - will do wrong. When He looks into your eyes - heart - will He see how you love Him?
Deacon Dale
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,
