You looking for love?

Much earlier in this psalm, we find the words, "For God’s Word is solid to the core; everything he makes is sound inside and out."  Those words may not seem like much at first, but when you re-read them a few times, maybe they will begin to sink in.  God's Word is solid!  Nothing can rock its truth.  Most importantly, when his Word is embraced - spoken, heard and acted upon - it has an effect beyond our imagining.  Not to be missed - EVERYTHING God makes is SOUND - inside and out!  Now, if that doesn't rock your world - I don't know what will.  Most of the struggle we face in life is the struggle between knowing right and doing it - we get defeated with the "disconnect" between knowing and doing.  Look at the passage - EVERYTHING (and that also means EVERYONE) is sound - because God's Word brings order, peace and hope! 

Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love.  He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together.  We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need.  What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name.  Love us, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re depending on.  (Psalm 33:18-22 MSG)

When something is "sound", it is declared to have a solid foundation.  Nothing gives quite the same foundation to our lives than the Word of God.  It is by the Word that all things are held together - making us "solid" to the core.  Now, if we tried to build upon a foundation which was lacking in structure or soundness, what would be the final result?  A not very sturdy structure, right? What lends to the strength of the structure?  Isn't it that which it is anchored upon?  Even a tree-house needs some kind of anchor!  If the limbs upon which it is suspended are not sound, the thing will not support the weight of the structure for very long!  

As we examine our passage in this light, we must keep in mind what has been presupposed earlier in this chapter - God's Word provides a foundation for our lives - it makes us sound inside and out.  Not just some of us, but all of us!  As a result, we can stand assured of God's watchfulness over our lives.  I don't know about you, but knowing someone much more powerful than I am has my back really does give me a sense of peace!  

Now, let's take apart our passage, shall we?  God's eye is on those who respect him - revere him, worship him, hold him in honor in their lives.  When we focus our eyes on him, his eyes are on us.  There is something exchanged in the face-to-face encounter with God - something which gives permanence or foundation to our lives.  It has been said the eyes are windows to the soul - they allow us to see deeply into the thinking of a man, the emotional make-up he has, and the determination of spirit which drives him.  In turning our eyes to God - to behold his face - we also see something quite similar.  We see the determination of his spirit to put things right within us - making us sound inside and out.  We see the intensity of his love toward us - moving upon the hardness of our heart to make it pliable in his hand.  We see the truth he reveals in the Word he speaks - setting the things in motion which we could not do ourselves.

There is something powerful in looking for another's love - it has a driving force, doesn't it?  Whenever we seek to be loved, the entire make-up of our being is behind that endeavor.  What our psalmist reveals is the "position" of standing in the need of love.  We ALL stand in this position - no one is exempt from needing love.  Now, if we'd pursue HIS love with even a tenth of the determination his love has pursued us, imagine how much we'd find ourselves transformed by that love!  Those who are looking for his love find it.  It is not an elusive thing - it is right in the midst of us - we often just need to reach out and embrace it.

I cannot help but imagine the scene at the altar - bride and groom standing face-to-face - expectancy written deeply on each other's face.  In those brief moments of intense connection, the very longing of the heart is revealed in two tiny words:  "I DO".  What do these words imply?  Don't they imply intent?  The minister may be giving a long list of "will you" questions - the answer from the bride and groom reveals the "intent" of their heart to DO exactly as they are committing to at that very moment - not just today, but into the "tomorrows" which will come.  

Throughout scripture, we see a parallel between the church and Jesus - the church being the bride and he being the bridegroom.  At the point of our "conversion" into Christianity, we are saying "I DO".  We look into the bridegroom's face, expectancy evident in our longing for his love, and utter these tiny words which reveal so much about "commitment" and "intent".  "I DO" - nothing speaks louder to God's heart than these two words!  In "looking" for his love, we are sure to find it - his heart is moved by the need of ours!  There is something of "foundation" built in the exchange of "vows" between a man and a woman - a commitment to be there for each other.  We have somehow lost that in today's world, but remember this about God - his commitments are impossible for him to break!  When he commits to love us, he will.  When he commits to making us sound inside and out, he will not stop short of this promise.

I don't know about you, but what I lack in "commitment", God is faithful to provide in his love.  All he asks of me is to LOOK to him.  Plain and simple - get our focus right and nothing will be able to deter us from seeing the evidence of his strong foundation in our lives!  Remember this - focus determines outcome - keeping the focus right assures the right outcomes.  Make your "I DO" count!  Keep your focus right!  Just sayin!