When did you know you loved him?

Our oldest daughter, Jodi, is getting married in May! Yes, what a blessed time to be celebrating the anticipation of marraige with her. Plans for the big day, bridal showers, and girl talks just made up a whirlwind kind of special week together.

At each of the three bridal showers, there was a time for Jodi to share "her love story". How fun to see the excitement on her face, hear the joy in her voice, and be amused at her sweet answers. I thank God for bringing His gift of a Godly man into her life who will soon become her husband! At each shower, someone asked her the question...when did you know that you loved Regi? As she told the story of her love for him, she was radiant with obvious passion for her groom. She knew exactly when that defining moment of true love began. The turning point that defined or changed their relationship from friendly to fun...from casual to serious...from passive to passionate.

As I pondered this question following Jodi's story, I thought of my relationship with Christ, and a defining moment in my love for Him. "When did I know that I really loved Him?" There WAS a defining moment. A time when I was overwhelmed with the love and the grace of God. A time when I saw the holiness of God. A time when I was ruined by the conviction of my sins. A time when He alone became my sufficiency. A time when I saw the King, the Lord of Heaven's Armies! That is when I knew that I loved Him!

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory...Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven." Isaiah 6:3,7b NLT

Jesus knew of that kind of love from a sinful woman. A woman whom the Pharisees labeled unfit to even come near Jesus, much less touch him! There was a defining moment when she kneeled in humility at her Savior's feet. When she washed His feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. When she kissed His feet and annointed them with her expensive perfume. How disgusted it must have made the Pharisees to see this!

Yet, Jesus turned to Simon and said, "I tell you, her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love. Then Jesus said to the woman, 'Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:47,48 NLT

When did you know that you loved Him? There must be a defining moment of knowing that you love Him...the Almighty God of the universe...that same God as your Savior and your Lord, Jesus Christ! Jesus, who saw your sins, but loved you in spite of them and covered them with His righteousness! Jesus, who has forgiven you much! Then in complete humility and in a defining moment of your love for Him...throwing yourself at His feet...I just wanna be that woman!