Love is a noble pursuit. We know it's the right thing to do. And we believe our affection

for God brings perspective and depth to life. But what does it really mean to love God?

When you strip away the Christian clichés and the predictable answers, how can we genuinely

love God at a deeper level? Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall continues his

topical series called Growing Deep in the Christian Life. And during the next half hour, we'll

hear Chuck identify several Bible passages that reinforce this truth. Loving God is our

ultimate response.

There are too many people who encourage us and our growth in Christ. As a matter of fact,

I find many more people somehow have a way of discouraging our walk and our responding

to God in obedience. John Powell, in his wonderful little book, Fully Human, Fully Alive, tells

a wonderful story of what happened to one of his friends who was vacationing down in

the Bahamas. You'll allow me, I'll read part of that story. Upon investigation of the

restless crowd gathered on the pier, my friend discovered that the object of all the

attention was a young man making the last minute preparations for a solo journey around

the world in a homemade boat. Without exception, everyone on the pier was pessimistic. All were

actively volunteering to tell the ambitious sailor all the things that could possibly go

wrong.

The sun will broil you, said one. You won't have enough food, said another. That boat of

yours won't withstand the waves in a storm and another. You'll never make it. When my

friend heard all these discouraging warnings to the adventurous young man, he felt an irresistible

desire to offer some optimism and encouragement. As the little craft began drifting away from

the pier toward the horizon, my friend went to the end of the pier, waving both arms

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