I'll try to keep this one short :)

You know those moments when you're in the presence of God, singing a worship song, or maybe even just going on about your day... and all of a sudden you're just HIT with the overwhelming power of God's love? I think that all too often we take His love for granted. I mean, we say it all the time: "God loves me. And He loves you too." Do we understand what this means?? Yeah, He saved us from sin and hell.. but DO we REALLY understand what it means to be loved by God? Will we ever comprehend the desire and passion that was so great that it drove Him to a sinner's death? He Who was perfect in every sense.. gave ALL... sacrificed ALL, everything glorious.. to be with me. To be with you. To gain a bunch of filthy, dirty, sinful humans. But no... not filthy, dirty, sinful humans. He saw the bigger picture. He saw the end. He saw His bride. Pure. Holy. Set apart for only Him. Set apart BY Him from the foundations of the earth. How beautiful! How glorious!! Why would we ever even consider holding back from Him? I am convinced that if this is the case, we have not truly encountered the love of God. How can one who has seen and tasted of something so beautiful ever desire anything less?? Because all else is less. I am also convinced that if we ever truly encounter the love of God in it's fullness, it will change our lives forever. We not only do not but we CANNOT live the same complacent, compromising lives. So if you are finding yourself falling back into old sins that you thought you had let go of at some altar call at youth group on a Wednesday night, don't just assume it didn't work. Ask yourself if you really know what it means to encounter the amazing love of God. And seek Him. Never stop seeking Him.