The Greatest Ingredient: Love

It was as hard as a rock, full of sugar, and packed with all kinds of chocolate. It couldn’t have been healthy for anyone, but it was full of love. This special treat was made by our 5-year-old granddaughter, with a little help from Mimi. So, what did I do? I ate some of it—and I was happy to do so.

That beautiful granddaughter was thrilled, and rightfully so. She loves to cook and is learning so much in the kitchen. But I hope she’s also learning that the greatest ingredient of all is love. It reminds me of a time when a little girl spent the entire worship service drawing a picture of me preaching. After the service, with great joy, she came straight to me and proudly shared her artwork. It might not have been displayed in a famous museum, and others might not have noticed its brilliance, but to me, it was priceless.

In the same way, God looks at us. To be honest, none of us are perfect, beautiful, or flawless. We’re just simple human beings, trying our best to navigate life. We’re not always smart, and we’re certainly not wise. But God doesn’t focus on our imperfections. He looks at our hearts and the love we have for Him. In His perfection and holiness, He sees our simple, sincere efforts to love Him—and that brings Him joy.

As David wrote in Psalm 18:1: "I love you, LORD, my strength."

This Thanksgiving, take a moment to pause and love your Lord and Savior. Let Him know, through your prayers and worship, that you love Him like no other.