Kierkegaard told a parable about a prince who fell in love with a peasant maid.
He had noticed her passing by on the street and was instantly infatuated. He
knew that if he went to her as the prince and told of his love, she would
certainly accept. That would be the loyal thing to do. But he wanted her to
have a genuine love for him.
So he abandoned all of his royal finery and came to live as a peasant in her
community. He shared her life with her, and in that sharing, she fell in love
with him. When he came to be a part of her world she developed a deep and
abiding love.
It is because of Christ that we are able to love God. Since God, in Christ,
came to be a part of our world, we are enabled to know God as He really is, and
to love Him with all of our hearts.
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Illustration by J. Michael Shannon, Professor of Preaching, Cincinnati Bible
College & Seminary, Cincinnati, OH.
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