TRANSFORMING LOVE (GOD LOVES YOU, PART 4)

CHAPTER 4
PART 4

GOD LOVES YOU

“[No]….greater love…than this…”(John 15:13 KJV)

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Back in the book of Judges, when they had no “...King in Israel, …every man did that which was right in his own eyes.…” Judges 17:6 KJV).

When God is not your King, you will do what is right in your own eyes and not God’s.

Many believers don’t truly care, truly know, or truly appreciate what God has done or how awesome “that NOW”, through Christ, ALL the conditions of the covenant are fulfilled.

And believers can keep their part of the covenant with God-given faith and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit they have “in” Christ.

In other words, his covenant requires obedience through faith “in” Christ and you can keep it because Christ enables you.

God’s love is immutably kind, endless, and flows generously to those who “abide” in his love by faith and obedience.

God’s offer of a YADA relationship is not just a religious journey; it is one of those opportunities of a lifetime. Why? God’s love is so kind.

God’s love is not jealous. However, there are many scripture that say God “…[is] a jealous God…”(Exodus 20:5 KJV). Sounds like an oxymoron, right? If God is love and love is not jealous, what does it mean that God is a jealous God?

So is God both jealous and not jealous? Jealousy usually carries a negative meaning and implies that someone is envious of another in a covetous manner.

We know that jealousy is usually linked to “…..disorder and every evil practice" (James 3:16 NIV).

God is a jealous God, but says, “….For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy…”(2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV).

Godly jealousy is revealed in Isaiah 42:8, “…my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images….”

God prudently protects what is rightfully his to have, which is what godly jealousy means.

 Godly jealousy is divine and does not share his praise or glory with another (Isaiah 42:8).

Godly jealousy and human jealousy are two different types of expressions.

 Human jealousy is usually covetous for what belongs to another; Godly jealousy is protective for what rightly belongs to Him.

In the YADA relationship, when YOU give your love, praise, heart, allegiance, or anything else that belongs to God to another, it can provoke Godly jealousy.

You are God's people and therefore, belong to God (Psalm 100:3). He bought you with the expensive price of Jesus’ life. He allowed his only Son to die for you out of love and because he wanted you.

God wanted a relationship with you and you agreed when you accepted Christ, but you are now giving yourself to another god or idol. This can incite Godly jealousy.

As a Christian, you rightfully belong to God. When you are out of fellowship with God, he can’t protect you anymore, with his manifold blessings, which are enjoyed within the YADA relationship only.

You have now chosen the adulterous relationship over the YADA relationship and one of the major consequences is the cessation of God’s protective care.

God’s love is not jealous as humans know jealousy. God simple wants what “rightfully” belongs to him: YOU.

God’s love is not boastful. When one boasts, in loving relationships, they condescendingly sing their own praises about the things they do for another, themselves, or others.

God does not need to boast about his holy abilities, or his manifold riches, or his majestic glory, or his supreme wisdom, or his matchless power, or any of his awesomeness traits.

Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them…” (Matthew 6:1 ASV). If anyone has a reason to boast: it’s Jesus, "...there is none like unto thee, O Lord..." (Psalms 86:8 KJV).

He really is the most perfect person that ever walked the earth and no one can match his holy, Excellency (Psalms 86:8).

God does not want or desire, nor does he seek his own praise. Jesus distinctly said, “……I seek not mine own will…” (John 5:30 KJV). Further, the bible says, “….all such boasting is evil….” (James 4:16 NASB).

Usually people boast to others to show out or wag their own tails. “You boast in your arrogance…..” (James 4:16 ASV). “They pour forth words; they speak arrogantly; …[and the wicked] vaunt themselves (boast)” (Psalm 94:4 ASV).

 God doesn’t need to boast to mankind in order to get their approval, honor, or gain their interest by promoting himself.

God is love and lets others people boast about his kind of love all on their own. “….Let another praise you and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips…” (Proverbs 27:1-2 ASV).

 If Jesus wanted to boast about the way he loves in comparison to the way mankind loves; he would be able to back up or prove his boasts. “…greater love has no one than this..” (John 15:13 ASV).  “……Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her…”(Ephesians 5:25 ASV).

God’s love doesn’t derive pleasure out of the fact that he is more lovingly perfect than his creation, nor is he boastful about it.

Boasting is not God’s style and it is not a part of his character. He tells us to do things “…not with eyeservice, as menpleasers…” (Colossians 3:22 KJV).

God is utterly concerned with the welfare of those he loves and would never seek his own interests at their expense. ^“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” (Philippians 2:7 KJV).

God has no hint of selfishness in his character and goes out of his way to serve those he loves without selfish motives. ^“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many…” (Matthew 20:28 ASV). 

 EXCERPT FROM THE CHAPTER 

"GOD LOVES YOU" FROM THE

BOOK TRANSFORMING LOVE

BY PENSACOLA H JEFFERSON
COMING SOON!!