Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Growing Love EP. 186
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Growing Love EP. 186
For today’s episode, we're diving into the theme of cultivating love, a real, active love for God, versus just going through the motions. It’s so easy to slip into that routine, where we start simply showing up out of habit, where faith becomes just another thing to check off. But, just as we hunger and thirst in the physical, Jesus calls us to a deeper hunger and thirst spiritually, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6, NASB 1995). That’s the starting point, right? Real love isn’t passive; it’s an active, growing pursuit. We’re meant to find satisfaction not just in avoiding what’s wrong, but in seeking what’s good.
Think about it this way: in any long-term commitment, the goal isn’t to barely get by, but to stay hungry, curious, and engaged. Some of us are naturally wired to keep digging, keep asking questions, keep growing, and in the Christian walk, there’s always room to grow. The Scriptures reveal just a fraction of who God is and what He’s doing, and I don’t care how many years we walk with Him; we’ll never fully know all He is. So, we lean into the unknown looking forward with hope.
Yet, here’s a challenge, life is busy. We’ve all been caught up in routines that distract us from what really matters. If we’re not careful, the demands of life can make faith feel like just another task, and that’s where the joy drains out of it. Faith becomes a burden rather than a source of life and strength. And here’s the risk, when love feels like a rule book, when it’s just a list of ‘thou shalt nots’ without the ‘thou shalts,’ we miss the heart of it. Rules are essential guardrails that keep us
safe, but they’re not the end. Jesus calls us into a life that’s fuller than just avoiding danger. He calls us into the joy of a relationship with God, and that’s where love becomes a privilege, not a restriction.
Our movement, rooted in a return to New Testament Christianity, challenges us to look beyond rigid rules and recapture the true essence of love, love that transforms and grows. The New Testament doesn’t just give us a list, it gives
us a way of life. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Love like that isn’t about meeting a minimum standard; it’s about giving our all. And it all started before we even came into existence. God poured His love out before the foundation of the world, long before Genesis even began, knowing He would send Jesus as the ultimate act of love. That’s the love we’re invited to cultivate.
So, practically, how do we get there? It starts with small, consistent actions. Just like any good gardener knows, cultivating love requires time and care. It’s like planting a seed; you have to water it, give it light, nurture it. The same goes for our relationship with God. It’s built through the time we spend in Scripture, in prayer, and in worship. We need moments of solitude, where it’s just us and God, time that isn’t about multitasking or checking a box, but simply
being with Him.
One other thing. There’s something powerful about
gratitude. When we’re grateful, it’s like adding fertilizer to that seed of love. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His
courts with praise,” the psalmist says. Gratitude pulls us out of routine and reminds us of the blessings we might otherwise overlook.
And let’s not forget, the love we’re cultivating isn’t just for others. It’s a love that first touches us, transforms
us, and then flows outward. The journey of love with God brings satisfaction but also an endless desire for more, like grandparents who never get tired of seeing their grandchildren. True love for God is fulfilling yet always leaves us wanting to draw closer.
View all episodes
By Clarence FellFor today’s episode, we're diving into the theme of cultivating love, a real, active love for God, versus just going through the motions. It’s so easy to slip into that routine, where we start simply showing up out of habit, where faith becomes just another thing to check off. But, just as we hunger and thirst in the physical, Jesus calls us to a deeper hunger and thirst spiritually, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6, NASB 1995). That’s the starting point, right? Real love isn’t passive; it’s an active, growing pursuit. We’re meant to find satisfaction not just in avoiding what’s wrong, but in seeking what’s good.
Think about it this way: in any long-term commitment, the goal isn’t to barely get by, but to stay hungry, curious, and engaged. Some of us are naturally wired to keep digging, keep asking questions, keep growing, and in the Christian walk, there’s always room to grow. The Scriptures reveal just a fraction of who God is and what He’s doing, and I don’t care how many years we walk with Him; we’ll never fully know all He is. So, we lean into the unknown looking forward with hope.
Yet, here’s a challenge, life is busy. We’ve all been caught up in routines that distract us from what really matters. If we’re not careful, the demands of life can make faith feel like just another task, and that’s where the joy drains out of it. Faith becomes a burden rather than a source of life and strength. And here’s the risk, when love feels like a rule book, when it’s just a list of ‘thou shalt nots’ without the ‘thou shalts,’ we miss the heart of it. Rules are essential guardrails that keep us
safe, but they’re not the end. Jesus calls us into a life that’s fuller than just avoiding danger. He calls us into the joy of a relationship with God, and that’s where love becomes a privilege, not a restriction.
Our movement, rooted in a return to New Testament Christianity, challenges us to look beyond rigid rules and recapture the true essence of love, love that transforms and grows. The New Testament doesn’t just give us a list, it gives
us a way of life. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Love like that isn’t about meeting a minimum standard; it’s about giving our all. And it all started before we even came into existence. God poured His love out before the foundation of the world, long before Genesis even began, knowing He would send Jesus as the ultimate act of love. That’s the love we’re invited to cultivate.
So, practically, how do we get there? It starts with small, consistent actions. Just like any good gardener knows, cultivating love requires time and care. It’s like planting a seed; you have to water it, give it light, nurture it. The same goes for our relationship with God. It’s built through the time we spend in Scripture, in prayer, and in worship. We need moments of solitude, where it’s just us and God, time that isn’t about multitasking or checking a box, but simply
being with Him.
One other thing. There’s something powerful about
gratitude. When we’re grateful, it’s like adding fertilizer to that seed of love. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His
courts with praise,” the psalmist says. Gratitude pulls us out of routine and reminds us of the blessings we might otherwise overlook.
And let’s not forget, the love we’re cultivating isn’t just for others. It’s a love that first touches us, transforms
us, and then flows outward. The journey of love with God brings satisfaction but also an endless desire for more, like grandparents who never get tired of seeing their grandchildren. True love for God is fulfilling yet always leaves us wanting to draw closer.