Monday, January 07, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
One Big Puzzle
I try so hard for the pieces to fit
- Smitty
- “The moment God is figured out with nice, neat lines and definitions, we are no longer dealing with God. We are dealing with somebody we made up. And if we made him up, then we are in control.” -Rob Bell
Co-horts
Telling My Story
6 comments:
I can love someone but not like them.....when I don't like them it's because I'm not getting what I want from them.....sooo if I take that to my realtionship with God I don't think it's much different for me.
I can love someone and not like them, it works like this:
I don't like my ex-sis-in-law who bugs me, annoys me, lies to people, is mean, etc.
BUT, I can love her when I look beyond all that and know that inside she's just like the rest of us - human fears, hurts, insecurities, need for love, all that.
Its not easy to like some people and I don't always choose to love/like everyone I meet.
Hope that makes sense.
Sure....I love my kids but I don't really like their behavior right now.....
It goes back to the old adage you have heard a thousand times...GOd loves the sinner but hates the sin....
We can be that way too....love the person or God but not like the behavior or actions....
This is what I have gathered so far from ya'lls comments (which are much appreciated).
To Love God- Love exist through all the ups and downs, through all the bad choices, through all the difficulties. Loving God looks beyond all of that knowing that He really, honestly, wants what's best for me.
Liking God- Comes when God acts as we think He should, or comes when things are going well for us. Not liking God looks like- not liking what He is doing, not getting what we want from God, just not liking what He seems to be bringing us in life.
Good summary or am I completely off the mark?
One is a distant approval, and the other is serious.
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Hey Smitty, just came across your blog and decided to weigh in.
First, my name is Paul and I'm kinda new to the bloggin world. If your interested you can click on my link and learn a bit about me. There's not too much there yet, but I'm just a newbee:)
(sorry about the plug, I'm desperate for hits!)
This is a great question. I enjoy seeing how your thoughts have expanded from the question of whether God likes and loves us to whether we like and love God. There does seem to be a distinction.
For me, however, liking and loving God are linked.
Generally speaking I like and love those who like and love me. I know it seems selfish, but it's true. There is just something so enduring about those who are crazy about me! Even the really annoying ones. They win me over with their love.
Despite how selfish this seems, I think this is just the way God intended it for us human folk. That love and affection are always given to the extent they are recieved.
It is like I have a trigger that is my emptyness and need for love, and until it is tripped I'm unable to give love to others. Don't get me wrong I want to love. I just can't. At least not with a sense of authenticity, joy, and true freedom. I mean, I can be guilted into "doing nice things" for people but I don't see that as real love.
This is why I believe He didn't wait around for me to love Him first...it never would have happened. I need to get lovin before I can give it, and can only give as much as I've recieved.
I know there is alot said about loving God, not for what He does, but for who He is. That seems like a bunch of nonsense. Makes no sense to me. I just can't seperate who He is with what He does. In fact I only know who He is because of what He does. And it is because of what He does for me that I love and like Him. I know I did'nt do anything to deserve or earn it, but that just makes Him more irresistable to me!
The bible doesn't say He only tolerates us. It says we didn't earn it or deserve love (which I take as meaning we don't perform to get it), but it states pretty clearly that despite our failures and sin that He is just nuts about us...me particularly. When that truth sets in I am just filled with love and like or whatever affection-word you can muster. And when I am really full of His firstlove some even spills over onto others. Too cool.
"He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." - Zeph 3:17
"We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19
I'm sorry I've rambled on so much. I seem unable to briefly comment and then shut up.
Post a Comment