Agree or Disagree?
There’s nothing you can do to make God love you more than he already does!
There may be some of you who have posts right now that make that statement. We are so attuned to trying to make people “feel good” about God and their position with him. There’s a lot of misery in the world, and it is ever so true that people need to know God loves them. So, I refuse to answer my own question without qualifying my answer.
First, I say God loves you enough that he gave his Son to die for you! That’s love to the fullest that I can imagine. I probably would have turned all men into petrified stones sealing their souls inside, and saved my son. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!
But – of course there is a “but” or I wouldn’t be writing this post. But there are things that we can do to please God – does that mean to make him love us more? Would that make him smile? He sure has a lot to handle! Maybe you would like to give him a grin.
Just in case you would like to do something special for God today, I’m passing on some ways to do so. Paul gives us these four ways to please God in Colossians 1:10-12
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bear fruit in every good work.
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grow in the knowledge of God.
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be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.
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joyfully give thanks to the Father.
A CLOSER LOOK.
1. Bearing fruit in good works is not a mamby-pamby “go do my good deed for the day” act. Good fruit comes from the life in the vine. Meeting my good deed quota is like going to the dollar tree and buying plastic apples, may be pretty but has no life in it. However, even Jesus cannot give luscious fruit on a branch that doesn’t do something! So we have to start doing “good works.”
2. Grow in the knowledge of God. His word is the best place to start, but even some atheists know the Bible very well. Growing in knowing God often (perhaps even always) involves walking in the “fellowship of his sufferings.” Not a pleasant place to go, but wonderful place to find out more about Jesus.
3. Being strengthened… Obviously if we are to be strengthened …, we are going to find ourselves in some hard places. It takes some rough times, some hard study, some strained muscles to be strengthened. It won’t happen if we refuse to work out spiritually – strive with great endurance and patience.
4. But through it all, we give thanks to the Father – admittedly this is sometimes hard, especially to do it joyfully!
So I recheck the four ways to please Him, and acknowledge that in myself, I can’t do it! I need Him; I need the “power” mentioned in #3; I need the Holy Ghost who points me to Jesus. I need you Jesus!
“I need Thee, O I need Thee, every hour I need Thee.
Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.”*
*Annie S. Hawks, 1835-1918
Sweet aroma 
I think He smiles when that tree branch falls on my head and I finally get what it is He would have me to be doing…the fact that it took a tree branch to knock that sense in to me is the comic relief He must enjoy ….not really I know, but it is something to think I could make Him smile or even laugh when I finally “get it” 🙂
Sorry for the random reply, but your comment sure made me grin today! 😛 How many times that tree branch falls on my head. 😉 So glad He understands.
I love a relationship like that. Sounds like you grew in the knowledge of God (suffering) and you became strengthened in endurance and patience. 😀
I was blessed with a hard head 😙
to Julie: I love a relationship like that. Sounds like you grew in the knowledge of God (suffering) and you became strengthened in endurance and patience. 😀
Reply
How I enjoyed this, and needed this reminder today! It’s good to feel God smile down on you, and I try to seek that everyday. In this world, it often feels so dreary and alone down here, but knowing He is watching up above gives hope and happiness. 🙂 Such a beautifully written piece. I mean this when I say it: Your blog has become one of my favorites!
I got all mixed up with my comment to Julie. Anyway this one is to you, M.K. Aneal. Thank you very much for your sweet words about my blog. I love blogging friends who talk back! And I think God does to. I have a feeling you are another one who talks back to God and lets him know when he gets through to you. Like: “OK, Lord, now I get it!” He is the dearest. Psalm 27:8 ” My heart says of you (God), “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Seeing him face to face. Sounds pretty silly to think we can’t talk to him if we see him face to face.
Oh, one more thing, I guess I will call you Mary Kate? Right?
Thank you for this wonderful advice!!!
Thank you. It has wonderful results when put into action. 😀
Nicely handled, Oneta. Yeah, He could hardly love us more than to do what He did. I agree, though our lives can be pleasing or not pleasing to Him. I also have no problem thinking He smiles a big spiritual smile when we get with the plan and it works as He intended and we are blessed.
You’re right. Just getting on board with God’s plan sure can save time and emotional/spiritual/ upheaval! Even Moses. I wonder if he had been so determined to adjust God’s plan, so that God sent Aaron alongside him -I wonder maybe the whole two golden calf thing might never have happened. Oh well fortunately for all of us, God can do things in more than one way.Thanks for the comment, Wally.
That’s a good question Oneta! Would things have gone differently? Beats me. As you said, God’s plan will happen, one way or another.
Nice!!! Kisses ❤ ❤ ❤
Thanks. I’ll send the kisses back with a big hug. 😀
Comment my photo!!! Kisses ❤ ❤ ❤
Agree: reasons why: “The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their walk are His delight (Proverbs 11:20).”
“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way (Psalm 37:23).”
“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:27).”
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17).”
“for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men (Romans 14:17-18).”
Thanks for your response. We are blessed; God does love us. Good scriptures you are sending to me. Thank you. 😀
We are surely blessed and can be certain of God’s unconditional love. (I wonder sometimes about how HE feels when nations make decisions which are contrary to HIS perfect Will and design for the world. ) Will (tree branches)? fall as He keeps saying, “Not my Will! You are still not legislating according to My Will and My Way’. Pray for Australia as changes to our marriage laws are being projected. Not as OTHER Nations but God’s Perfect Will for us in this great South Land of the Holy Spirit. . Thank you for your blog. Blessings and Grace!
Thank you, Faye. Yes, I do care about your country also. We have both been blessed because of God’s hand of blessing, but it may not always be. He has lifted his hand of blessings from some, and we seem to be no better.
I smiled reading this wonderful post. And I know HE was too.
Four points were helpful