Do you love God?

We are always told how much God loves us.  Growing up in the church, I frequently heard God's extravagant loved touted and talked about.  Even new believers who did not grow up going to church, don't have to be saved for very long before they have been told multiple times how much God loves us.

So the real question, then, is not whether God loves us - that fact has been emphasized and underscored so many times that it is in danger of becoming repetitive or monotonous.  The real question is whether you love God.  Do you really love God....or do you just love Him for what He does for you?

So many people complain to God when things aren't going their way.  They say that God doesn't love them, that He isn't looking out for them.  But God is not a genie in a bottle; He's not a vending machine, where we can just select the blessing that we want and....presto!  Out it comes!

I always wonder how God feels when we start complaining that He doesn't love us.  I picture a child whining to their parents - the people who clothe them, feed them, give them shelter and affection and love and all of those things that children need - I picture that child whining that his parents don't love him because they won't give him an iPod or Xbox or whatever the newest fad happens to be.  Of course his parents love him.  And it must kill them to hear him say that they don't.  I betcha our heavenly Father feels the way way when we accuse Him on not loving us.

The church is full of spiritual gold-diggers, carnal Christians who only think about what God can do for them, not what they can do for God.  And it's true, that God has promised many blessings to those who love Him.  But the key is that He wants us to really love Him first.  Not for what He can do for us.  But simply for who He is.  Because He loved us first, and He deserves our love in return.  God truly loves you and wants to bless you.  But first you have to ask yourself, do you really love God?

Psalm 91:14-16

 ¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
   and show him my salvation.”

If He is for me, who can be against me?

My heart is overflowing right now with God's goodness.  Two nights ago I had dinner with some very dear friends, Kerrie and Barry touchstone.  She was the one who had led the Bible study on David that I went to this semester, and I grew very close to her over the course of these last few months.  Then today, I went to the airport and picked up my best friend Rachel, and spent the afternoon with her.  Then, in the evening, I had dinner and played games and watched a movie and just overall had a very grand time with Rachel and two other dear friends from college, Caroline and Emily.

As I sat this morning pondering God's goodness and praising Him for His steadfast mercy, I stumbled upon Psalm 91, which really hit home for me.  There are a few verses in particular that I want to point out.  "He who dwells in the shadow of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust" (vs 1-2).  "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday" (vs 4-5).  "If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the LORD, who is my Refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" (vs 9-11). 

Oh, what power does the word of the Lord have!!  These verses were such a comfort to me this morning.  I am still sad about leaving Berry.  I am still nervous about the future.  I will still miss my life here in Rome, and the dear, dear friends that I have made.  But through the companionship that I enjoyed these past few days, and the truth that I read in His word this morning, God is really showing me that He truly DOES have my life in His hands...and that He truly DOES care about me more than I could ever imagine.  He has given me the most amazing friends I could ever ask for, a rock-solid family, opportunities that most people could only dream of getting, and the courage (although sometimes I may call it stupidity :]) to take advantage of those opportunities.  He is in control.  He will never let me down.  I was really reminded this morning that everything truly IS going to be ok.  Through the thick and the thin, He has been there and He will be there.  My God is so great....if He is for me, who can be against me???