God Loves Our Love

God\’s love for us is such that He appreciates, enjoys, and actively reciprocates our love.

Classical theology tends to view God as “the unmoved mover”. The generally held perspective is that God is not affected by anything outside Himself. This is not the Biblical record of God’s inner life. What the Scriptures teach is that God\’s love for us is such that He appreciates, enjoys, and actively reciprocates our love.

Let’s look at the first-priority command, again.

And (Jesus) said to him,  ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37)

The Creator is calling for our emotional involvement. Why? Is it because our love for Him is meaningless to Him?

The Lord is not playing games.

If God didn’t truly love our sincere love why would He command us to love Him? Some might answer, “Because it’s good for us.” Yes, loving the source of life is good for us, but is this command only for our benefit?

So much of the Bible contains the easily traced theme of God’s marital relationship with Israel and then, with the Messiah’s transnational community, the Church. Here is a beautiful passage that reveals God’s anticipation over Israel’s restoration to Himself. It is a pattern that can be applied to all who know the Lord.

It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,” Nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”; But you will be called, “My delight is in her,” And your land, “Married”; For the Lord delights in you, And to Him your land will be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:4–5)

Many years before Isaiah it was recognized that God’s people’s expressed love makes Him happy.

Let Israel be glad in his Maker; Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King. Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. (Psalm 149:2–4)

Note verse 4:

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. (Psalm 149:4)

In the Apostolic writings we are encouraged to draw near to God. Here are two verses from Hebrews that illustrate this. Notice, they encourage our initiation.

let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Make no mistake, God is The Initiator. However, part of what He initiated is a cosmos in which we get to, within limits, initiate. Sometimes God wants to react to us, and not just act upon us. He wants to be sought by us and not just seek for us. In fact, James wrote that God reciprocates.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8a)

The company of people who draw near to God will find that the LORD responds. That He is in among them. The Messiah said:

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

(Matthew 18:20)

Look at Zephaniah’s description of His attitude and activity amongst those with whom He is in fellowship.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Let it be confidently said that the Lord loves the love of His people.

Let’s draw near to God.

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Also, David wrote a book about God’s love for the Jewish People called, For the Sake of the Fathers

And a book on Leadership

Check out David’s new worship album, Looking for a City