Forgetting the Love of God

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 at 11:39 am by Bob Hyatt

Forgetting the Love of God 2013-06-27T11:39:33-05:00 Bob Hyatt

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

‘But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others.”– Luke 11:42-46

Jesus accused the Pharisees of forgetting, neglecting two things: justice and the love of God. In other words, of violating the two greatest commandments (love God and love your neighbor). Leaving aside the HUGE topic of justice for the moment, the phrase “the love of God” was arresting to me as I heard it today. What struck me about this was that the phrase “the love of God” can be read in two directions- the love we have for God and the love God has for us and by extension the love God has for others.

There’s been a lot written about the love of God for us in recent years. We are slowly recovering our identity as “the Beloved.” This is important work- until we see how much God values us, loves us, has sacrificed for us, we will never truly understand, accept and be able to then live out the Gospel. We will forever be stuck in the mode of “I am accepted because/when/if I obey” and never reach “I obey out of gratitude because I am accepted.”

This will then necessarily hinder us in our understanding for God’s love of others. How could I possibly see God’s love for sinners if I believe God’s love for me is dependent on my own righteousness and not the righteousness of Christ and my inherent nature as His creation?

And so not to diminish the important work of living in our “belovedness,” I felt the call today to focus instead on, or maybe in addition to, the other other direction- my love for God.

“We love Him because He first loved us” remains incomplete when we focus on the love of God for us without letting it move us into love for Him, worship of Him, gratitude for Him.

I think I have a ways to go in growing in my love for God- my emotional connection to and cherishing of the God who gave up everything, who suffered great pain and endured the cross for my sake. My heart often remains stuck in worship- stuck in “Oh how He loves you and me!” and only rarely flows into “Oh how I love HIM.”

I desperately desire not to forget the love of God for me. I equally desire not to forget to stoke the fire of love for Him in my heart.

God, as I come to worship each day, as I arrive at worship each Sunday with my community, may I know and feel your love for me deeply, and may I respond in kind, with open-hearted, full-willed love for You. May I truly love You with all my heart, soul and strength.

bob hyatt

blog • twitter • fb • web

Prayer

Previous Post

June 19, 2013

Jesus vs. Paul

Next Post

June 28, 2013 Doug Pagitt Radio - June 27, 2013

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Addiction Advent Atheism Authority Bible Cartoons Christian Year Christmas church church planting Civil Rights Community Contemplative Spirituality Culture emerging church Empire Eschatology Evangelism Events Gender Healing Humanism Islam Justice Kingdom Lent Movement Building Multi-Faith Music mysticism New Wave Emergence origins Personal Poetry politics Prayer Preaching Privilege Racism Religious naturalism Resurrection salvation SKEPTIMERGENT Theology Trauma Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2017 November 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In what city was Jesus born?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Nazareth Bethlehem Jerusalem Jericho