But Do You Like God?

[Ed Walsh]

Greetings, Sons and Daughters of the Lord who is Love, Himself,

I have wanted to ask this question for months but wondered if anyone would get what I was driving at.
So, here goes without any explanation. Just a question.

Do you Like God?​

 

[davejonescue]

Yes, because he has crafted us in such a way that to pursue his glory, is to love our self. My natural self doesnt agree with all of his statues; particularly the prohibition against smoking weed and fornication; but that is not to say I do not trust him, and agree with his infinite wisdom that such things lead to death. Thus I refrain. But it is easy to put full trust in God, though applicably difficult at times; because I know no one else cares for me so much that even my mess-ups work to my good. And growing up in Southern California, I was always drawn to desire to epitomize Love, particularly from a culture of long-standing "hippie" type movements. Yet, by his grace, he saved me from a false understanding of Love, and drew me to himself, through his Son, so that by no merit of my own, I may be conformed into the very image of Love, which is Jesus himself. I not only like God, but I love God. If someone gave me a thousand years to try to come up with an idea that could equal the reality of who he is; I would fall short. He is a prize that is worth a life, that could be our only one. And by his grace, my wager is I will not be disappointed on that day. This is not to say I work, or sacrifice to assure my entrance, but only do so to hopefully earn a crown to have something to cast before his feet. He is worthy of all glory, and honor, and praise. Not just because he is God, but because who He is (if that makes sense.)

 

[Jerusalem Blade]

Seven one-sentence devotions

I know You because You have revealed Yourself to me

I trust You because You are true

I follow You because to be with You is life

In You I have all the riches of salvation

Thank You for Your patience with me

Thank You that You love me

Thank You that nothing can separate me from Your love

[edit: added one]

 

[earl40]

I have a fearful awe of Him, which now a day's I simply cry when I speak with Him.

 

[alexanderjames]

I would have expected you to bring out the most curious of questions Ed.

 

[CovenantPatriot87]

Yes. I like him because he first liked me

 

[Ed Walsh]

Yes, because he has crafted us in such a way that to pursue his glory, is to love our self. My natural self doesnt agree with all of his statues; particularly the prohibition against smoking weed and fornication; but that is not to say I do not trust him, and agree with his infinite wisdom that such things lead to death. Thus I refrain.

Thanks, David, for your usual bold yet humble words about the greatness of God and the un--greatness of us.

I don't think I mentioned the event that happened to me three months ago. This was such a big deal to me that when I knew I could do this thing that had so long eluded me, I decided to take an extra 24 hours to think about it.

The next day, far up on the Appalachian Trail, I thought the time was coming for me to say the words. I looked up, almost trembling, and for the first time in my 71 years, I was able to say, "I love You" to my wondrous God.

 

[Ed Walsh]

I have a fearful awe of Him, which now a day's I simply cry when I speak with Him.

He is indeed a fearful God. Is there not a big difference between the fear the ungodly has and the fear of God the Godly by Grace acquires?

The short version:

1. God showed me the darkness of my heart.
2. Jesus showed me his face and I looked upon the God Who is Love Himself.
3. And God revealed to me the difference between the two hearts.

I fell on the ground, trembling at such a great Prince coming from afar to rescue this distressed damsel.

The Ungodly -- It is a fearful thing for him to fall into the hands of the Living God.
To Us -- What a wondrously fearful thing to fall into the waiting Arms of the God Who is love.

 

[Deleted member 13126]

Greetings, Sons and Daughters of the Lord who is Love, Himself,

I have wanted to ask this question for months but wondered if anyone would get what I was driving at.
So, here goes without any explanation. Just a question.

​

Do you Like God?​

Yes, very much so. He doesn’t make mistakes and He never lets me down. He’s constantly, unceasingly faithful. These little twists and turns in life have all been orchestrated for my good and His glory. All of the ironies, humbling moments, insights, opportunities for self-reflection, graces, mercies, and even chastenings have been Hand-crafted, as it were, by the Sovereign Lord. He cares for me and if providences are any indication, He has a wonderful sense of humor.

 

[Santiago DO]

I would like to say yes. Yes, I like HIM, yes, I love HIM.

But, every day, I see in me a deadly coldness. I know some theology, but I really want to know HIM. Please pray for me.

 

[Ed Walsh]

I would like to say yes. Yes, I like HIM, yes, I love HIM.

But, every day, I see in me a deadly coldness. I know some theology, but I really want to know HIM. Please pray for me.

Hello brother,
He loves and pities your coldness, my friend. Jesus just has a few loose ends to work out in your life while on Earth. Three Millennia of idolatrous living doesn't go away with a single "yes, I believe in you."

Hardship, discouragement, and even despair must be embraced by us as the good Providence of our beautiful and loving God and Savior Jesus the Christ.

Ed

 

[alexanderjames]

I would have expected you to bring out the most curious of questions Ed.

To expand on this, I said curious because of the use of the term “like” when it comes to God. And it makes me wonder what the thought is behind what you are asking.

But by the grace of God I can say I believe I grow in admiration, wonder and love to our God more and more as I know Him more, and for this I am thankful!

 

[Sovereign Grace]

There's an old song that says "I don't like you but I love you." I can say that I not only like Him but I also love Him. When I sin, I know He will never cut me off, sever me from Himself, and that is why I strive to be more like Him and a lot less than I.

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

I love your question, and it goes straight to the heart. It surely takes faith for one to submit their entire will to the will of God, and say "You know what is best, and I want Your will to be done in everything." Until one gets to this point, I feel that it can be hard for somebody to truly like God. When we want God to be at the center of everything, when we want to be so near to Him, and when we trust Him with absolutely everything, this is a sign that we very much like our God.

 

[Gratia vitam praecedit]

To love God is to follow his prescriptive will to the letter, jots & tittles, and joyfully. We can not do that in and of ourselves. We do not love God as we ought; if we say otherwise, we are deceiving ourselves, as we sin every day, wittingly, or unwittingly - by act, or by omission. We can only please, or love God in Christ's bosom until changed in Glory.

 

[Ed Walsh]

To love God is to follow his prescriptive will to the letter, jots & tittles, and joyfully. We can not do that in and of ourselves. We do not love God as we ought; if we say otherwise, we are deceiving ourselves, as we sin every day, wittingly or unwittingly - by act or omission. We can only please or love God in Christ's bosom until changed in Glory.

Forward:
A quick note I'm adding after I finished my post below to explain my thoughts better. I don't think I said well what I intended to say. Also, I believe I used too many words to say next to nothing. But at the heart of what I need to study to say better is that God can be served, he can be obeyed, he can be feared, and yet not be the primary love of our hearts. That's what he's after. He doesn't need stuff done for him. God doesn't feel better if you kneel and worship his glorious Majesty for an hour more than usual. He doesn't need it. God is expanding his family to include humans on both sides. This work of God is such a big deal we couldn't possibly have thought high enough to take it in.
~~~~~~

Good thoughts all,

Your first sentence, "To love God is to follow his prescriptive will to the letter, jots & tittles, and joyfully," raises a question or two in my mind that I'd like to pursue for a moment.

There are two ways you could take the first sentence. The first way is how I always took it until 5 or 6 years ago. I would often quote from Romans the several verses I pasted below two, almost any discussion on the subject of our duty to God. Thinking back, it was always harsh seeming to me. If I could paraphrase (exaggerate), it would go something like this. "Listen up, people, we must obey all the commands of God in Scripture, and you had better do it joyfully, too. Cuz he's always watching."
 
Here's Paul on the subject. I often quoted this passage from memory because that's how often I used it. I got to be kind of a royal pain in the ass.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:8‭-‬10‬​

[8] Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. [9] For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [10] Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.​

For me, this verse settled it. The definition of loving God is to do lots of stuff that he says you must.

What about 7 or 8 years ago, I started seeing love for God as something more than just doing what he says. I've been an employer for 32 years, and I can tell you that just because you have an employee who does a lot of stuff for you doesn't mean he loves you.

Let's try this on a married couple; see what the wife thinks of this kind of love.

The husband to his wife after just getting home from work.
"Hey babe, we've been married for quite a while now, and I got to be honest with you. I no longer desire intimacy with you, and I think it's time we grew up and stopped those silly moonlight walks and talks.
But I promise to continue--no redouble--the things I do for you because I love you. Hun, why are you crying? You're going to have more things done for you than ever before.

But let me ask you yet again: Why are you crying, babe? I'm only saying what we both have known for some time was true. I wanted to assure you of my steadfast love and care for you as long as we both shall live.
What's that? You want me to read 1 Corinthians 13?
Why?

Our beautiful Tri-unity is not many things; no, He is everything. But what is He at His root that causes this Love? He repeatedly tells us that his primary 'attribute,' if you will, or the very essence of His being, is love. That's what he keeps telling us to believe. God is just not like what most Christians think He is. Oh yes, the Lord Jesus Christ will personally judge the world in righteousness someday. But it isn't going to be fun. He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He gets nothing of benefit to him by whatever service we give Him. God the Three Persons have mutually loved, respected, obeyed, honored, and enjoyed each other's eternal Bliss and the love they are well practiced at for all eternity.

God may be provoked to wrath, but He is Love. Jesus, our great high priest, elder Brother, and Creator of the universe, loves my soul as He loves Himself. The Lord is my friend and your friend now. And what a friend He is! In all God does for us and with us, He only gives--He never takes. He needs nothing. But it seems that the great I Am, that I Am, is exploding with love. God is spreading throughout His creation, giving life wherever he goes. We have no idea how we will Marvel at his very appearance. The marveling will begin the change in us, completed only at a resurrection. God made a self-maledictory oath that if he didn't keep his promise, he would be ripped to shreds like the body parts he passed between.
Do you know what a reliable theologian has told me is the most frequent command in Scripture?

Do not fear. ​

I love Him.

 

[Scott Bushey]

Everything that has been offered thus far is true. However, It is much more than that. Would it be far-fetched to believe that you can have a closer relationship with our supernatural God? After all, the apostle tells us that the Lord has poured out his love into our hearts.

Have you ever been in love with a human before? Do you recall the intensity of it? If you’ve ever been in love, you know that everything about the person that you were in love with, is pulsing through your veins and mind. Ultimately, you cannot live without this person;

I taught a Sunday school class recently at my church; I asked the participants if they love God? I went a little further and ask them if they love God like they love their spouse? Or their parents? Or their animals? I received lots of blank stares.

Can God be experienced. If God has condescended in his word, by describing his character of love, by saying that He IS love, isn’t this treatment relatable, given that he is the creator of love, the love that he is, is immeasurable. This love is the most perfect love. Being that were made in his image, and he’s redeemed us, gathered us back to himself through Christ, through this marvelous love, it would seem that this love for him cannot be contrast to do with anything earthly. Hence, the love that we have for Godhead, should eclipse any other love that we experience. Perfect love casteth out fear.

This love needs to be and should be experienced by the people of God as it is the gas that fuels all of our walks and everything about us. It should be at the epicenter of everything that we are, and if it’s not, prayers should be feverish to obtain that. We need to sell everything, buy the field and start digging. The shovel that we should be using is prayer.

 

[Scott Bushey]

I just saw this post from yesterday, on another thread about loving other things more than God:

“Mat. x. 37, ‘He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me.’ And to love anything more than Christ, is to hate him. A less degree of love is called hatred in Scripture, Gen. xxix. 30, 31. Because he loved Leah less than Rachel, he is said to hate her. Even as you may be said to hate your relations, enjoyments, lives, when you love them less than Christ, so much less as you will be content to part with them for his sake, whenever he requires it. And in this sense you must be able to hate them, or else you cannot be the disciples of Christ, or else you are not Christians; for upon these terms, and no other, will he own you for such.”

 

[TheInquirer]

I like Him because He is ultimate goodness from which all other good things are inferior and created by Him to point back to Him.

 

[Ed Walsh]

I like Him because He is ultimate goodness from which all other good things are inferior and created by Him to point back to Him.

Perfect!
I couldn't help thinking about what is glorious about the glory of the LORD.

To Moses' request of the LORD, "Show me thy glory" (Exodus 33:18); see the LORD's answer below for what He considered as of first importance to understand about His glory.

Exodus 33:19 (KJV)​

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.​