The Most Excellent Way

I started Jerry Corbaley's book, The Most Excellent Way, last night. There are times when you pick up a book, and then there are times when the books picks you. The latter is the case with this book.

It's not often that I choose to re-read selections of a book to get all the possible meanings from them. I have found myself making so many notes on this book, just so I am sure to not forget anything. Jerry's main theme is that 'without love, I am an annoying nobody who gains nothing.' God's greatest commandment to us was to love. Jerry's calling out Christians here, reminding us that to love Him with all our hearts, all our souls and all our minds will take all our time. After reading that particular statement, I guffawed. Really?! ALL my time? Who expects that kind of commitment? But when you look at it from the aspect of Christ, who literally came all the way down here, just to be tortured to death to save us, spending all my time and energy loving Him should be the least I can do, right?

I am blessed during my reading and studying of this book that I have nearly unlimited access to Jerry's wife, my dear friend Lynn. I get to pick her brain, and thus his. We talked last night about what kind of love God wants from us. She referred to the definition of love found in 1 Cor. My response to that was that surely that is not enough. Jerry gives a simplified explanation of applying this love to God, and it just seems, well, too easy. But in practice, I think nothing is harder. And it's not just that we should love Him. If we are not decidedly in love with God, we are sinning against Him. And we should confess that shortcoming and seek forgiveness. Try praying to the creator of everything and apologizing for not loving Him enough. Talk about a humbling experience. Wow.

So, having only made it through the preface and chapter one last night, I look forward to continuing my study on this book. I am forever grateful that my dear Lynnie is my guide through this. Thank you. You and Jerry are in my prayers, as I know I am in yours. <3