Taste of Love–A Message From 'Nimeonja Pendo Lako'
The song "Nimeonja Pendo Lako" by Kwaya ya Mt. Cesilia Arusha is a beautiful and powerful expression of a central Christian truth: the profound experience of tasting God's love. The title itself, which means "I have tasted Your love," perfectly captures the essence of this spiritual journey. It’s a journey that goes beyond mere knowledge and leads to a life of worship, obedience, and desire for God.
Knowing and Loving God
The foundation of loving God is knowing Him, and that journey begins with His Word. To know Him is to love Him. This love then overflows into worship and praise. As it is written, "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only" (Luke 4:8). The book of Psalms offers us countless examples of how to express our love and adoration for our Creator. This is a love that prioritizes God above all else, an undivided love that puts Him first, as commanded: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30).
Loving God is to Desire Him
When we have truly "tasted and seen that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8), we are left with a deep yearning for more of Him. This is a love that desires His righteousness, His Word, and His grace. It's a thirst for God that the psalmist describes with a beautiful metaphor: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God" (Psalm 42:1).
Just as a man separated from his beloved eagerly opens and pours over a letter from her, our love for God makes us eagerly desire His Word. We read it avidly and often because we love the Author. This isn't just a duty; it's a delight. The psalmist’s description of God's Word resonates deeply within us, calling it "more precious than gold...sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb" (Psalm 19:10).
Loving God is to Obey Him
Finally, our love for God is expressed through obedience. Jesus Himself said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15). But this isn't about simply following rules. When God's love is written indelibly on our hearts, we naturally want to please Him. Our obedience becomes an eager, joyful response to the One we love. As the psalmist declared, "I delight to do your will" (Psalm 40:8).
"Nimeonja Pendo Lako" reminds us that when we taste the love of God, our lives are transformed. It leads us to worship Him, to desire Him, and to joyfully obey Him—a beautiful cycle of faith and love.
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