What does God expect from a relationship with us?
What do we expect from a relationship with God?
Here is what I wrote to answer the first question:
As Christmas arrives we are often reminded of the childhood tradition of writing a Christmas wish list to Santa Clause. According to any Christmas movie or song, Santa knows if you been naughty or nice and if you are a nice little boy or girl you will receive what you asked for. Sadly, many Christians approach God in the same manner. Their prayers often sound more like wish lists which end with promises that they will be good to ensure that God will grant them their wish. Many Christians are so wrapped up in what they can get out of God that they forget that God wants something out of the relationship as well. Then there are those of us who cannot fathom why the all-knowing, all-powerful, Holy Creator of the universe would want anything to do with us in the first place.
From the beginning of God’s word it is evident that God had a purpose in creating human beings. In Genesis 1:26 He said, “let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” He did not merely create us as pawns He could play with, He wanted a relationship with man. This is the main theme throughout the Bible. Amazingly enough, the Mighty, Holy God who created the universe expects only three things from us. These are found in Deuteronomy 6:5 “love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength.” Although these three things may not be simple they are easy to remember and from them stem the holy, set-apart lifestyle that is talked about in the New Testament.
To love the Lord with all of our heart we must relinquish anything that might stand in the way. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:24 that “no one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Because God created us He knows that we cannot be wholly devoted to more than one person, place, or object. Thus, we must love Him with our whole heart, putting anything else second.
To love the Lord with all of our soul we must obey His commands. As James 1:19 says we cannot simply listen to or read the word we have to do what it says. By obeying God’s commands we are serving Him exclusively.
To love the Lord with all of our strength we must not conform to the pattern of the world (Romans 1:12). As God’s children we must imitate His holiness.
In one verse, God has covered all the bases. By loving Him with all of our heart, mind, and strength we ensure a life wholly devoted to Him, free from the hold of sin. By loving Him with all of our heart, mind, and strength we exude His love to others, fulfilling Jesus’ command that we “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). By loving Him with all of our heart, mind, and strength we will gladly strive to live our lives for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The Creator of the Universe is not a Santa-like figure, nor is He a stern Dictator who pushes us around like pieces on a game board. The Lord our God is a jealous God who wants us all to Himself. He wants us to love Him with all of our being and He will not settle for less.
AWESOME job! That's a really really really great paper!!! Can't wait to read what you wrote in response to your second question!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Actually my sister tackled the second question. Maybe if I have time I'll answer it too.
ReplyDelete