Look of Love


Son 4:9  You've captured my heart, dear friend. You looked at me, and I fell in love. One look my     
way and I was hopelessly in love! 

Jam 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a 
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 

     It's often easy to tell the length of a relationship by the look in the couple's eyes. That first 
look, the one that hooks the heart forever, is blindly full of adoration, affection, and desire. In this 
look there is apparent inability to notice any flaws whatsoever as the eyes, the physique, the hair, 
the attire, etc. render all other factors insignificant. For the one experiencing this "look of love", 
reason seems to have been disabled before the flood of unbridled attraction. 
     As the young love's look is observed in a public place it may be set apart dramatically 
from the look in the eye of the couple that have allowed that look to remain in their eyes for an 
extended period. While this look is no less authentic, it is a look that includes information other 
than that obtained in the first gaze for its motivation. There has been exposure to all that might be 
challenging in this relationship, and yet the choice has been made to keep looking. There has been 
an opportunity to become disillusioned and begin looking elsewhere for gratification that might 
appear more fresh and exciting. ( Rev 2:4) 
     In the decision to maintain an unaltered gaze upon the first love, though, the way has 
been made for growth and maturity. While there was a naive infatuation in the first looks, there is 
now a securely bonded heart connection that has been formed in commitment and faithfulness. 
Firmly grounded in a relationship that has been established in actions and not just words, every 
motion taken in support of commitment becomes further reinforcement of bonded hearts. Each 
subsequent look is given further substance in the effort expended producing what is known to be 
necessary in the relationship. 
     We are told to love the Lord with our whole beings. (Deut 6:5) Like those first entering 
into a loving relationship, this cannot be done successfully without ever experiencing the look of 
love. And, this look will probably go through a very similar process as in a human relationship. 
There mayl be the time in which everything just looks great, with no challenges whatsoever to 
faith and believing in this wonderful and beautiful God of love and mercy. Then, though, as 
challenges begin to arise and other information becomes included in this relationship, there are 
options presented to choose to look elsewhere. We might even keep glancing back from time to 
time, but the steady gaze that first dominated our experience becomes challenged by cares of life 
in many different forms. 
     As our first look into the perfect law of liberty (Jesus) was an awesome experience, there 
is waiting for us a much more meaningful reward in the look that is developed and matured over 
time and challenges. With each choice to be faithful in this relationship, doing what is discovered 
to be necessary in it, there is a strengthening of the heart's bonding, and faith is given reason. 
Each subsequent look has further substance for the love that is found there. As His life begins to 
touch every part of ours, there is greater and greater realization of what it means to love Him with 
our whole being. 
     May my gaze on His face increase steadily in love that is proven through my every 
experience and my choice to be faithful to Him in it. May this gaze be more and more fixed upon 
Him so that, especially in public places, it may be seen that I have grown in a love that is no less 
infatuated, just much affected by my choices to keep looking and acting upon what I see. While 
blessings will surely come as the favor of His nearness is certain, the greatest reward will 
continue to be the sight of His face, with growing appreciation of what is seen. Let my heart be 
bonded more and more as it finds true life in faithfulness to His. 


7/12/05