About a week and a half ago, I was in Scottsdale, Arizona for a wedding. Weddings have taken on an entirely different meaning for me since moving to IHOP 5 years ago. They are such a dim but beautiful snapshot into the heart of the Father to prepare a bride for His Son. I was so honored to be a groomsman for such a good friend and brother in the Lord, Shawn Zajas. Shawn was married to Kellie Hubbell, his best friend for the past several years, on August 23, 2008 in the presence of God, family, and so many loving friends. It was truly a special moment!

During the ceremony as they were giving their vows to one another, it struck me once again that Jesus has wholly vowed Himself to us. As Shawn said “I promise to love you with all my heart”, the Holy Spirit was thundering in my heart, reminding me that Jesus, God in the flesh, loves me with all His heart. What does it look like for God to love us with all His heart? Every single emotion, affection, and desire is set upon me. What about all His mind? He created the whole universe – trillions of galaxies and trillions of stars, and holds them all in the palm of His Hand. His mind is so vast. Yet He loves me with His entire mind. I simply cannot fathom that. And we won’t even get to “strength”. Thinking about how God loves me with all His strength would just make my brain explode!

Kellie then began her side of the exchange of vows, and once again the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart. “In the same way I have vowed to love you with all that I am, this is the way that you will love Me – with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” I struggled to hold back all of my tears – some of them for Shawn and Kellie because of the moment they were exchanging, but most of them for the gratitude in my heart towards Jesus.

After journaling and spending a lot of time thinking about the wedding that day, I realized I just give God “lip service” more often than I truly love Him. I want to love God on His terms. In John 14:21, Jesus defined loving God as being obedient to everything He spoke. There is no such thing as loving God without seeking to obey His Word. Loving God requires more than singing to Him, dancing in a worship service, or merely having sentimental feelings about Him.

I don’t want my experience of loving God to be reduced to flowery language about being extravagantly devoted. There is no substitute to loving God on God’s terms. This is where my safety lies and this is where I want to give all of my allegiance. His promises to us as we love Him on His terms are unfathomable to our mind without divine help of the Holy Spirit. It’s only in this place that the burden of Jesus is easy, and His yoke is truly light!

I hope I’m provoking you a little bit. Do you fully pursue loving God on His terms – with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength – or is your definition of loving God shaped more by our culture - just giving Him some time on Sundays or having some good feelings towards Him when our favorite song is played? May the Lord give you such a high vision to be abandoned and wholehearted on His terms!