Do you remember how you act toward the person you're madly in love with (if it is reciprocated)?
You do things to make that person happy. You leave him little notes. You give her flowers. You bring him lunch. You plan special dates. You do this all to please that person, to make that person happy. You don't do it to make that person love you because you know that person loves you already. You just have to express your shared love because it is so so so wonderful!
Okay, you got it? Got those memories, that understanding of love expressions in your mind? Hold onto it while you read the next part.
This morning I read John 8:29 where Jesus says, "'And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.'"
Jesus always does the things that please the Father.
I already knew that and you probably did too, but this morning it hit me in a new way. I thought, I could live like that too. I could live just to please my Father, to live to make Him smile; to live to express my love for Him because He loves me so so so much, and the more I love Him the more I will know Him and then the more I will love Him and on and on and on (and the same is true for you).
We aren't to live the way that would please God because we have to earn His love or earn our way to heaven. No! We can live to please Him just because He loves us and we want to show our love back to Him.
Just think how simple this would make life -- just live to please God. No more drama. A whole lot less stress. Probably fewer wrinkles and health problems too!