(03/24/2013) How To Love GOD?

Developing spiritual love, and more on the value of law and science are topics, today. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Wimean” (Level 2 with 798 points, a member since January 18, 2013) posted the following:

How can I love god..?

THE BATTLE AXE: Science and the Laws of Nature? (03/23/2013)—The value of natural laws and science are called into question by many Christian believers, because those who lack faith mistakenly attribute greater authority to these products of mankind than to GOD, our Creator. As a result, natural law and science may be seen as idols, and man-made devices that promote defiance, ignorance, irreverence, false worship and unbelief. As was found with the covenant of Moses, where knowledge (science) or law is taken to be the ultimate good and an end in itself, these tools are not rightly applied as a means to higher purpose and correct sacred relationship. Conflicts, limitations and shortcomings of the law may become an obstacle to full realization of truth. The righteousness intended by the law may be lost through a focus upon its letter, rather than its spirit. The covenant of Moses was not “bad” or wrong, yet, a better covenant had to be supplied (see Hebrews 8: 1-13 and Hebrews 12: 18-29, KJV). Similarly, natural law and science are not “bad” or wrong within their limited sphere of application; and a better system of experience and knowing are demanded to explain the origins of life and the fullness of such sacred process as death, rebirth, resurrection, sanctification, and eternal life.

THE GOLDEN ARROW: No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1st John 4: 12-21, King James Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: My Sheep Hear My Voice (03/08/2013); Wanting To Have Our Way (03/09/2013); Our Need for a Son (03/04/2013); The Love of GOD (03/03/2013); Love in Christ (10/23/2012); Escape from Racism (10/24/2012); Wrong To Love? (08/17/2012); The Young Less Religious? (08/18/2012); Unconditional Love (03/28/2012); On Properly Setting Our Sights (03/29/2012)

Wimean, here are some thoughts you and your readers may find helpful:

Where men and women (boys and girls) fail to develop their human potential to embrace others as a dimension of the Self, they continue to exist and operate only through their animal nature. Combativeness, defensiveness, self-awareness and self-promotion dominate human consciousness through the peculiar mechanisms of the flesh. Included are appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, craving for sexual climax), sense experience (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching) and mental functions (e.g., fantasy, fear, imagination, recall, projection). Along with other temporal elements that frequently and quickly come and go (such as affection, anger and other emotions, lust and passion), the flesh breaks-off awareness of divinity that is generated from within ones inner spirit provided through Creation.

Love for GOD, who is a spirit, can only be accomplished as an operation of the spirit from GOD that has been deposited into created beings and living creatures. Love is never merely a product of the body and the mind. (Even what we call “making love” is not just a physical or mental act; at the same time, there are emotional, psychological and spiritual events taking place.) Because love is an expression of the whole person, the commitment of body and mind are also important to any full and sincere expression of love.

Showing love for GOD may be thought of as beginning when a person expands their spiritual awareness, and prepares for direct encounter with GOD by first learning about GOD through accounts and experiences of others. Here, the Bible is invaluable along with the personal testimonies of living believers in the church. Obedience and persistence in practicing and performing those things that are recorded as commanded by, and pleasing to GOD, are recognized by most believers as expressions of love toward GOD. Included here are charitable giving, praise, prayer, prophesying, truth-speaking, and unselfish service.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, when love is properly understood as the goal of benefiting another without seeking payment or reward for oneself, obedience is clearly seen as one of the highest aspects of love, for to obey is to put aside ones own will to carry out the will of another. Similarly, sacrifice, sharing and suffering pertain to love; and in Jesus Christ we see the multiple demonstrations of perfected love.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC