KNOWING GOD’S LOVE BY FAITHFULNESS TO HIM
KNOWING GOD’S LOVE BY FAITHFULNESS TO HIM
Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. —Jonah 2:8
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. —Revelation 9:20-21
Whose love do we desire to experience more? The love of God or the love from someone else or something else? An idol is anyone or anything that we place as more important than God. It is to be love for God first and then love for people second that should be our priorities (Matthew 22:37-40). When we love God as first priority then other priorities will more what they should be. If He is not our first love then priorities of what we do love will be skewed.
Disobedience at any time toward God is a lovelessness toward Him and we take ourselves out from experiencing His love. When we put other people and other things before God then we do not experience the love He has for us. God’s love is always available to us, but when we disobey His will then we do not experience or know His love. Disobedience is a choice not to know His love even though He loves us still and wants us to know His love.
This is what happened to Jonah. In his disobedience he came to the conclusion, as he was praying in the belly of the giant fish, that “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.” Our disobedience to God is actually a turning away from God’s love for us. He knows what is best. Will we listen because we love Him? If so then we will know His love for us.
How sad that there are those who will not repent, but would rather worship demons and man-made idols— “nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” In their unrepentant disobedience they will never know the love of God. But fellow follower of Jesus, let us not be disobedient. Our love for God is to encourage an obedient life for Him. May this be the case and then we will truly know the love of God. Jesus said, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love” (John 15:10). Dear Father my desire is to be faithful to You and know Your love for me. May I do so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSAN5ObaRQg Yes, may I remain in Your love.