Monday, August 14, 2006

Would you love Him?

I heard an interesting commercial on the radio yesterday. A wife was asking her husband "Do you love me?" The husband responded, "Well.... the laundry hasn't been done and I noticed this morning my shirt had wrinkles in it. You were suppose to do the ironing last week right? I noticed when I came in that you haven't dusted the house in awhile also. This meal is mediocre, but it's not bad so I'd say my love for you is, on a scale of 1 - 10, a 3" The wife exclaims "A THREE!" And the husband defends his score saying "It's a solid three though, and I really mean it." The wife then informed the husband that he didn't love HER, but he loved the things she did for him.
Then, on comes the radio announcer that asks the listeners, "Is this how you love God?"

Do we love Him only for what He does for us? Do we trust Him because He's proven Himself time and time again throughout history or do we trust Him because at the moment everything makes sense to us?
I ask these questions because this is exactly what I was dealing with last week. I didn't trust God. I questioned whether the things He said in His word were true. It seemed as though He were actively working against me. I didn't understand, and for some of the situations the resentment and anger is still there about the situation, but not towards God. I believe - actually, I JOYFULLY proclaim - I believe God is good. I know He is. Though I don't understand all of my circumstances, I know HE DOES.
During Sunday School class this past Sunday we're studying Revelation. One of the verses we read was Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
I know the verse has other meanings as well, but an unusual thing that jumped out at me was that it doesn't say "Worship Him that saved you from your sins" "Worship Him that promises you heaven" "Worship Him that saves you from the pit of hell" It talks about what He's done in the earth.
So let me ask you this, if there was a King out there, that never did anything specifically for you, but took care of the whole earth, would you worship him? Countries all over the world worship their kings, and yet their kings don't take care of their finances, give them jobs, heal their sick, or listen to my every petition.
So why is it, our King, who does so much more for us than a regular King (besides just salvation and eternal life) and yet if we don't understand something that happens to us we throw a hissy fit.

How fickle we human creations are, that we have a standard for our God, Savior, Redeemer, Friend, Comforter, Provider, Protector, Peace-giver and Rock that we wouldn't hold anyone else to.
So I ask you this, because I had to answer it last week myself.
Is your relationship with God such that if you don't see 100% of what He can do, 100% of the time, you won't love, believe, trust, worship, praise, serve Him?
What if God could do anything, except heal your sick? Would you still serve Him?
What if God WOULD do anything except heal your sick? Would you still serve Him?
Could you? or WOULD you?


Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know "Thus saith the Lord"


Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

we see a 100% of what He does 100% of the time, maybe we just don't perceive it.

never thought i'd see you doubt or not trust God, oops, did I give away my identity.