When asked what is the greatest commandment? Jesus didn't hesitate in responding. You must

Transcription

1 What God Wants for Me: Part 7 Loving God...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.. Matthew 22:37b (NLT) When asked what is the greatest commandment? Jesus didn't hesitate in responding. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments (Matthew 22:37b-40 NLT). There you have it the entire Old Testament law summed up in a few short sentences! God wants us to live a life where loving Him is at the center of all we think and do. This is the fruit of pursuing a relationship with Jesus and experiencing transformed life. Knowing God Knowing God is central to growing in our love-relationship with Him. We simply cannot love someone we do not know. There is so much to learn and experience of the nature and character of God, that the quest for knowing Him lasts a lifetime. The more we know Him, the more we realize there is still yet to know. And in knowing God, we realize He is more than enough for all we need. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 1. How does Jesus define eternal life in this verse? John 17:3 (NIV) 2. Are you surprised Jesus doesn't say eternal life means going to heaven when you die? Why or why not? 3. What is the difference between knowing about God and knowing God? 51 What comes to our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy

2 4. Read Colossians 1:9-12. What happens when we grow in our knowledge of God? 5. How do you think your life would be different if you knew God better? 6. How does growing in our knowledge of God deepen our love for God? How can we turn our knowledge about God into knowledge of God? It's that we turn each truth we learn about God into a matter for meditation before God, leading to prayer and praise to God....It's an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God. J.I. Packer, Knowing God OK, let's get to know God better... One way we can know God is by observing Him in action! As we read the Bible, we discover who God is by what He says, what He does, and how He responds in a variety of situations. We won't pursue this particular approach further in this study, but as you read the Bible, you might ask questions such as: What is on God's heart? How does this passage describe God? What is God like? What is God after? What does this story or parable teach me about who God is? As you ask these questions over a number of passages, your knowledge of God, and hopefully love for God, will grow. Another way we come to know God is by studying and meditating upon the names, titles, metaphors and attributes of God as specifically named in the Bible. As Richard Pratt observes, The Bible describes God as mysteriously and wonderfully multifaceted. He is love, justice, mercy, beauty, perfection, life, wrath to name only a few of His characteristics. All of God's attributes reveal different aspects of His personality... We must always strive to deepen our awareness of God in all the ways He is revealed in Scripture. (From Pray with Your Eyes Open, p. 5). 52

3 Here are some names, titles, metaphors and attributes of God. These lists are not exhaustive (there are literally hundreds more descriptions of God in the Bible), but the ones selected here are meant to expand your heart and mind to a greater awareness of how big and awesome God is. Glance through these now, but then continue on to page 54 for guidance and questions for reflection. God the Father Abba, Father Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6 Ancient of Days Daniel 7:9, 13, 22 Creator Isaiah 27:11; 40:28; 43:15 Father of Compassion 2 Corinthians 1:3 Father of Lights James 1:17 God Most High Genesis 14:18-22; Psalm 78:56; Daniel 4:25; Numbers 24:16; Acts 7:48 God of Heaven and Earth Ezra 1:2; 5:11; Nehemiah 1:4; Revelation 11:13 God of Hope Romans 15:13 God of Israel Genesis 33:20 God of Justice Malachi 2:17 God of Peace Hebrews 13:20 Holy One / Holy Father John 17:11; Isaiah 43:15; Habakkuk 3:3 Jealous Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24 King Psalm 10:16; 74:12; 84:3; Isaiah 43:15 King of the Ages Revelation 15:3 King of the Nations Jeremiah 10:6-7 Lord of All the Earth Joshua 3:11, 13; Micah 4:13; Zechariah 6:5 Redeemer / Savior Job 19:25; Isaiah 47:4; Hosea 13:4 Righteous Father John 17:25 Rock / Rock of Israel Genesis 49:24; Deuteronomy 32:4, 15; Psalm 18:2 The First and the Last Isaiah 48:12 The God of All Comfort 2 Corinthians 1:3 The God of the Armies of Israel 1 Samuel 17:45 The God Who Sees Genesis 16:13 The Lord Is My Banner Exodus 17:15 The Lord My Shepherd Genesis 48:15; 49:24; Psalm 23 The Lord Who Heals Exodus 15:26 The Lord Who Sanctifies Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:7-8; 21:8, 15, 23 God the Son Advocate 1 John 2:1-2 Alpha and Omega Revelation 1:8; 22:13 Bread of Life John 6:35 Bridegroom Matthew 25:1-10; Mark 2:19-20; John 3:29 Chosen One Isaiah 42:1; Luke 23:35 Consolation of Israel Luke 2:25 Cornerstone Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2:6 Deliverer Romans 11:26 Desired of All the Nations Haggai 2:7 Firstborn Among Many Brothers Romans 8:29 Foundation 1 Corinthians 3:11 Fountain Zechariah 13:1 Friend Matthew 11:19 Gift of God John 4:10 Glory of Israel Luke 2:32 High Priest Hebrews 3:1; 4:14; 7:26-27 Judge Acts 10:42 Lamb John 1:36; Revelation 5:6 Light of the Gentiles Luke 2:32 Master Matthew 23:8 Mediator 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 12:24 Messiah John 1:41; 4:25 Mighty God Isaiah 9:6 Redeemer Isaiah 44:24; Galatians 4:5 Rising Sun Luke 1:78 Rock Isaiah 8:14; 1 Corinthians 10:4 Ruler Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6 Ruler of God s Creation Revelation 3:14 Savior Luke 2:11; Acts 5:31; 1 Timothy 2:3; Titus 3:6 Shepherd and Overseer 1 Peter 2:25 Son Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 3:6 Sure Foundation Isaiah 28:16 Teacher John 13:14 The Life John 11:25; 14:6 The Morning Star 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 22:16 The Resurrection John 11:25 God the Spirit Breath of the Almighty Job 32:8; 33:4 Counselor John 14:16 Deposit Ephesians 1:13-14 Eternal Spirit Hebrews 9:14 God Acts 5:3-4 Helper John 14:16, 26; 15:26; Romans 8:26 Holy Spirit Matthew 1:18; Mark 12:36; John 1:33; Acts 4:8; Romans 15:16 Living Water John 7:38-39 Lord 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Promise of the Father Acts 1:4; 2:33 Seal Ephesians 4:30 Spirit Numbers 11:17, 25, 26 Spirit of Christ Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11 Spirit of Counsel Isaiah 11:2 Spirit of Faith 1 Corinthians 12:9; 2 Corinthians 4:13 Spirit of Fire Isaiah 4:4 Spirit of Glory 1 Peter 4:14 Spirit of God Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Matthew 3:16; 12:28 Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zechariah 12:10 Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus from the Dead Romans 8:11 Spirit of His Son Galatians 4:6 Spirit of Holiness Romans 1:4 Spirit of Jesus Acts 16:7; Philippians 1:19 Spirit of Judgment Isaiah 4:4 Spirit of Knowledge Isaiah 11:2 Spirit of Life Romans 8:2 Spirit of Promise Ephesians 1:13 Spirit of the Fear of the Lord Isaiah 11:2 Spirit of the Lord Isaiah 11:2; Luke 4:18; Acts 8:39; 2 Corinthians 3:17 Spirit of Truth John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13 Spirit of Understanding Isaiah 11:2 Spirit of Your Father Matthew 10:20 Spirit Who Intercedes for Us Romans 8:

4 To make the most of the lists on page 53, read over and meditate on each of the descriptions along with their corresponding Scripture passages. Each item reflects a unique characteristic of God, which helps us know Him in a multitude of ways. What images and thoughts come to mind with each one? What do these things teach us about God? Jesus being The Lamb of God, for example, reveals to us His tenderness and willingness to be led to slaughter for the sins of the world. It reminds us of the bloodshed required to pay the penalty for our sin. The image of a lamb is meant to humble us. Yet at the same time, Jesus is a rock, solid and immovable. He is firm and unchanging. The image of the rock is meant to strengthen us and give us hope. These two images help us know Jesus in two distinctly different ways. 7. Exploring God in this way could take a lifetime, so today simply choose three descriptions from page 53, then reflect on the questions that follow. Name or description of God: What thoughts and images come to mind as you reflect on this? What does the corresponding Bible passage uniquely reveal about God? Now make it personal what does it mean to you that this is true of God? Name or description of God: What thoughts and images come to mind as you reflect on this? What does the corresponding Bible passage uniquely reveal about God? Now make it personal what does it mean to you that this is true of God? Name or description of God: What thoughts and images come to mind as you reflect on this? What does the corresponding Bible passage uniquely reveal about God? Now make it personal what does it mean to you that this is true of God? 54

5 Our Heart's True Longing 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 (NIV) This passage from the Old Testament provides significant insight into the human experience. On almost a daily basis, we have access to moments of immense beauty, and at the same time a deep, unquenchable longing for more. We are given glimpses of heaven, yet at the same time are exposed to the unspeakable darkness of hell, the burden of living in a broken world. And somewhere in the midst of these two extremes, there seems to be a vacuum a longing that only God can fill. The essence of loving God is learning to be satisfied in Him. Loving God becomes the only natural response as we discover that He alone is our heart's true longing. There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ. Blaise Pascal, Pensées (1670) 8. Write out Psalm 27:4. 9. What does it mean to live in the house of the Lord? 10. What does the Psalmist long to do (described at the end of the verse)? 11. Write out Psalm 42: Have you ever experienced longing for God like a deer longs for water? Describe what that was like. 55

6 13. Write out Psalm 73:25. How does your heart respond to this verse? 14. When was the last time you stopped in your tracks realizing you were looking for life from the wrong thing? Describe your experience. 15. What keeps you from slowing down and recognizing your longing for God more often? 8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV) 16. Summarize what Peter is saying. 17. Write out a prayer to God about what you are learning and thinking and feeling. 56

7 Redirecting Everything We Are Toward Him Loving God means surrendering all we are and all we have into the hands of our loving Creator. Our focus is not to be isolated to what we know, how we behave, or how we feel. Rather, God is after our entire being our mind, our will and our emotions. We run into great danger when we focus on just one or two of these aspects, not taking into account the totality of who we are. As we grow in loving God, it will affect everything about us. 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV) 18. Summarize the truth of this passage in a sentence or two. 19. Which do you tend to focus on more: what you know, how you should behave, or how you're feeling? 20. How can we tell from this passage that God is concerned about all three aspects? 21. What are some dangers of focusing on only one or two of these ways of relating with God? 22. What are some ways you could incorporate all three aspects into your walk with God? 57

8 The Pharisees are a group of people that show up dozens of times in the Gospels and book of Acts. The New Testament depicts this group of separatists as vehement opponents of Jesus and also of the early Christians. They did not embrace the teachings of Jesus, or His role as Messiah. But when the Pharisees first emerged as a distinct group (likely BCE), they were not an awful, God-hating group of people. According to Josephus, one of the most well-known and respected historians of the first century, the Pharisees simply wanted righteousness in the land. They saw fellow Jews violating the law of God and wanted the people of God to realign themselves with the ways of God. Unfortunately, over time, the Pharisees wandered away from God. They remained outwardly religious, but by the time Jesus showed up on the scene, their deep, intimate love for God had all but disappeared. 23. Read Matthew 23, and write down several accusations Jesus had against the Pharisees. 24. In your own words, what was Jesus so upset about? 25. In focusing on behavior and how things looked on the outside, what were the Pharisees missing? 26. How does Jesus describe a fully surrendered life in Matthew 16:24-28? Have you experienced this kind of surrender? What does it mean to live this way? If we are truly surrendered, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered. Our entire life will be consumed with the One to whom we surrender... In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him. Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest 58

9 Living Before an Audience of One As we learn to take our cues and direction from God, one refreshing result is that we stop being controlled by other people's agenda. Whether we are aware of it or not, most of us are influenced by the thoughts and opinions of others far more than we are influenced by the thoughts and opinions of God. If we're honest, other people have way too much power in our lives. And because it feels good to receive praise and encouragement from others, we can fall into the trap of looking to those around us for approval. Our identity can be found wrapped up in how other people see us. Loving God however, means living before an audience of One. Read Matthew 6: Who were the hypocrites trying to please (verse 2 and 5)? 28. What does it mean don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (verse 3)? 29. Read Colossians 3: What direction does this passage provide about how to please those we work for and serve, yet still live ultimately before God? 30. What do the following verses contribute to your understanding of living before and audience of One? Philippians 2:14-18 Colossians 3:17 Revelation 4: Can you think of a time when you did a good work to impress people rather than God? 59

10 32. Do you ever feel exhausted from trying to look more together than you really are? What's stopping you from being honest with yourself and others? Write your thoughts here. 33. How does being loved and forgiven free us from feeling the need to please others? 34. How does living for the approval of others limit the person you are becoming? 35. How does the truth of Matthew 5:16 help us live before an audience of One? Living Coram Deo is to live one s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God. R.C. Sproul, Ligonier Ministries Obedience Wait! Before you decide not to go through this part of the study because the word obedience makes you gasp, you need to keep reading. Yes, there are times when God calls us to do things that are unnatural, unpleasant, and downright against everything that's in us, but what if obeying God is more than what you've known it to be? What if obedience is more than simply gritting your teeth and being dutiful? The reality is that obedience is about having God s love written indelibly on our hearts. It's about being deeply settled that He knows what's best for us. It is vital to experiencing God's love and living the life He designed for us. I run in the path of Your commandments for You have set my heart free. Psalm 119:32 (WEB) 36. What is your reaction to this verse? Have you ever run after God like this before? 60

11 37. What is the difference between having a desire to obey God and only obeying God because you feel you should? 38. Should we obey God even when we don't feel like it? Why or why not? 39. What do the following verses teach us about obeying God? Psalm 40:8 John 14:15 1 John 5:3 40. What has God asked you to do that you've had a hard time doing? 41. How could small decisions today help you learn to trust God more tomorrow? 42. What impact might your obedience have on those around you? 43. Do you ever feel like God is holding out on you? Explain. 44. What does Romans 8:32 teach about the heart of God toward His children? 45. How could the truth of Romans 8:32 help you become more willing to obey God? 61

12 Identifying Some Next Steps Consider for a moment your current life situation and the various roles you have. You may be a parent, single, young or old. You might be unemployed or at the height of your career. Think through where you are in life, and reflect, How does what I m learning apply to specific areas of my life? Then spend a few minutes in silence, asking God to put in your mind any next steps He wants you to take. Use this space to write your thoughts: Responding in Prayer Spend some time looking over the last few pages of what you ve been reading and writing. Ask God to help you hear what He is saying to you. Then use this space to write out a prayer to God. Tell Him what you re learning. Thank Him for who He is. Use words to tell Him what s in your heart. 62