God Loves us so much, but do we love Him back?

"God loves us so much, but do we love Him back?"

                                       (A relationship works both ways)

Anyone attending this church for a length of time, has heard from this pulpit about the love of God and how He truly loves us unconditionally.

The apostle Paul declares in Rom 8:38-39,  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The bible tells us God loves both the saint and the sinner.  He loves us so much He knows every hair on our head.

And John 3:16 says,  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

But, although God loves all people and His creation, He hates sin.  He abhors it.  Nevertheless, God loves sinners despite their sin. His love for people is  unconditional, called 'agape love.' But His love doesn't cancel His Holy hatred of sin and wickedness.

Parents who love their kids establish certain rules for them to follow for their own good, just as God gives us rules to follow for our good.

But, responsible parents who love their kids unconditionally, will punish them if they break the rules that were set forth. 

Does punishing our kids mean we no longer love them?  Of course not.  But if they break the rules and do so consistently, though we love them, they'll  be punished not out of anger, but out of love ... to get them back on track.

And though God loves us unconditionally, He will punish those who continue to break His rules (the sinner) and don't repent, ask for forgiveness, and stop sinning.

To show His great love for us, God sent Jesus who shed His blood to cleanse us of our sin and bring salvation. God has also given us in His word many promises of protection, provision, and healing.   Why?  Because He loves us that much!

But, what about us?  How do we treat Him?  Do we give Him our unconditional love as He gives us?  Or, is our love for God conditional, based on what He does for us?   How many say to God either by words or actions:

'Lord, I will love you unconditionally, if You answer all my prayers, give me a great job with a great salary, big house, fancy car, and keep suffering  far from me .  If not, I don't think I can love You.'  'So, Lord, in order for me to love You unconditionally, You have to become my personal genie.'

How would we feel if one of our kids came up to us and said:  'Unless you give me all I want and let me do whatever I want, even break your rules, I can't love you.'

Too many behind the pulpit today decry, 'God is love.'  But, they're only quoting the first half of Rom 11:22 which says: 

"Consider therefore the goodness and severity of God:  severity toward those who fell  (unrepentant sinners who continue to sin and refuse to repent), but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off."

 And how do we continue in His kindness?  Through obedience and repenting of our sinful behavior!

God says in Mal 1:6, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master.  If then I am the Father, where is My honor?  And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?"

Some people don't give God a second thought throughout their day.  They simply take God's goodness and love for granted, without stopping to thank Him.  How sad!

Q: Can we hurt God's feelings?  Can we grieve His heart by our words and actions?   Some say yes. Some say no. Some say:  "He's God.  How can we hurt His feelings?" "God doesn't feel emotions the way we feel them."

The bible tells us in Gen 1:27, we're made in the image of God:  "So God created man in His own image;  in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Q:  So, what does it mean to be created in God's image if God is Spirit and doesn't have a body made of flesh?  Yes, we're part spirit like God.  But, is that the extent of how we're created in God's image?

If we're made in God's image, the emotions God created us to feel, He feels:

1)  When we desire fellowship, know that God desires our fellowship.

2)  Though God abounds in love and slow to anger, just as we can be provoked to anger, God can also be provoked to anger through sinful behavior.   There is a point where even God's patience runs out and judgment follows.

For someone to say, "God is all love"  is simply not true.  God also has limits like a loving Father.

Ps 78  contains several verses that speak to God becoming angry and grieved due to the wickedness of men.

Verses 18-22  declare:  "And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy.  Yes, they spoke against God.  They said, 'Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Can He give bread also?' Can He provide meat for His people?'

The Israelites were mocking God!

"Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious ... because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation."

Verses 40-42:  "How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved  Him in the desert!  Yes, again and again they tempted God ..."

And in Nahum 1:2-3,  "The Lord avenges and is furious.  The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies;  The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked."

Q:   Do these verses suggest God is "all love?"

The bible is replete with examples of God pouring out His anger as He did onto Sodom and Gomorrah. Was their destruction an act of love?

3)  Just as we at times feel sadness, so does God.  In Lk 19: 41, Jesus wept over Jerusalem knowing its future destruction. 

And in Jn 11:35, Jesus wept over Lazarus' death before raising him from the dead. 

4)  As we rejoice when we're happy, God also rejoices.  Zeph 3:17 says:

" ... He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

5) And as we sometimes experience grief, God also grieves.  Gen 6:6 tells us: "And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart."

And God also says in 1Sam 15:11, "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king..."

That said:

Why don't we consider God's feelings that when we disobey, we cause Him to grieve?   Aren't we grieved when our children disobey us because they want things  'their way'?

Why don't we think we'll bring sadness to God's heart by disobeying His rules meant only for our good? 

Why do we reject  God's advice  but  accept the lies of the enemy?

Wouldn't we be grieved if we overheard our child say to someone, 'I ignore my parent's advice because  I know  what's better for me?'  (Self-will)

And how God's heart breaks when He hears someone say:  "There is no God.  God doesn't exist."

Ps 14:1 says, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God. "

5)  What sadness God must feel when someone doesn't love or acknowledge Him?   God says in Isa 29:13,   "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me."

6)  What sadness God must feel when Americans trust their government to save them without asking God for His divine intervention?  Thinking that,

Donald Trump and the MAGA movement can 'Make America Great Again'  without first  'Making  God Great Again in America?'

Whereas God shows His unconditional love for people, many in return, show Him their indifference, disobedience, and compromise.

As I shared in a prior message, in Num chapter 21, some Israelites were bitten by fiery serpents on their way to the Promised Land as punishment for murmuring and complaining against God.  But, God even made a way for them to escape death.

Those who were bitten and looked at the bronze serpent on a pole God commanded Moses to erect, were healed.  Gazing at the bronze serpent represents obedience and repentance. 

But, those who refused to look up at the bronze serpent, died from the poisonous serpent bite.  They refused to obey and repent.  And those who refuse to look up at the cross of Christ and accept Jesus as Lord, will die an eternal death.

Throughout the bible, whenever the Israelites disobeyed God, He withdrew His hand of protection - until they repented.  They either lost battles, or were invaded, or taken captive and brought to the enemies' land becoming enslaved.

God may also remove His Holy Spirit from us if we continue in sin without repenting.  But some say, 'God would never do that!'  In Rev 2:4-5, Jesus said to the church at Ephesus: 

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love (Jesus Himself).  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand (Holy Spirit) from its place unless you repent." 

David knew the Holy Spirit can be removed from a person who consistently sins.  He prayed  in Ps 51:10-11,   "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me."

David testifies to how essential God's help is to us in Ps 60:11-12,  "Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies."

So, to the disobedient church leader  and to those who attend that church, they will NOT see God's hand  over them ... unless they truly repent and turn from sin.

But, to the obedient, to those who love, fear and obey God,  Ps 37:23-24  says:

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds  him with His hand."    

God says to us in Isa 43:2-3,  "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overthrow you, When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior ..." 

God promises to protect His people and save our children.  Isa 49:25-26 says: 

"For I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children.  I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine.  All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob."

And  Ps 61:3-4,  "For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.  I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;  I will trust in the shelter of Your wings."

Brothers and sisters, God gives us His unconditional love. And He's given us so many promises of  protection, provision and healing as written in His word. 

But, what do we give Him in return? 

-Do we give Him our unconditional love?

-Do we give Him our obedience and trust? 

-Do we consider by our words and actions, we may be grieving His heart, or causing Him sadness, or making Him angry?

God is our loving Father.  Let's consider His feelings before we give thought to disobedience and sinful behavior.

Let's think of Him once in a while instead of ourselves and offer thanks for the air we breathe, the clean water we drink, and the food we eat.

Let's think about how much God loves us and how much we may, or may not, love Him in return for being such a good Father to us.

And let's also think about God's promise that  His strong hand of protection will be over  only those  who love, fear and obey Him -- all the way to the finish line.

AMEN.