WHAT CAN I DO TO BE LOVED BY GOD?
In any or every family,the relationship between parents and each one of their children differs for reasons known to them.In the family,some children will be trusted more than the others.Not every one of them will be depended on by their parents.There are those who will be loved much than others.No matter the case,not any one of them ceases to be their parents’ children.
This usually happens, perhaps, because of one’s ability or skills, behavior or their status in life.It’s the same thing with the family of God(believers).Some of them will be trusted by God.Not everyone of them will be greatly loved by God.Again,not all of them will be relied on by God.Yet not even one of them is disqualified from being God’s child by any of the reasons.
Today,we are going to look about three characters in the Bible who were greatly loved by God,and from them we shall learn what we need to do so as to become God’s beloved children,too.
1.) LOVE.
Love is the first quality which if you have will move you nearer to God.Hence,you will become God’s beloved child.Among the 12 apostles of the Lord Jesus,John was greatly loved than the others.Sometimes, this disciple would lean against Jesus by the chest.
John 21:20-21;
“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?”
Apostle John had emulated Jesus’ love,and this made him be well-loved by the Lord.In all his gospels,John encourages love:for God is love.If we want to be God’s dear children,we must love one another.The attributes of Love is as described in:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8;
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
2.) HAVING A HEART THAT IS FULLY COMMITTED TO GOD.
This means being ready to say no to what is wrong and against God’s will, regardless of the cost to us or the loss we risk to suffer for refusing to do something which might cause us to sin against God.He(God) wants us to exhibit this kind of love toward him.Like Daniel,who had a steadfast love for God.This made him also to be highly esteemed by God.
Daniel 10:11;
“And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.”
Also read Daniel 10:19.
Since the time he entered into Babylon as a young boy,where he and his fellow Jews had been exiled,even during his old age,Daniel trusted in God and did not waver in his love for his God.While he stayed in in the king’s palace,Daniel refused to eat any food prepared for the royal family.He resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and drinks.Moreover,when a decree was published prohibiting people from worshipping any God in the land,Daniel would pray to God thrice a day.He was not afraid of being thrown into the den of lions.He was firm in his love for God and boldly stood for what he believed.Because of his wholehearted commitment toward God,he became greatly loved.
Whenever an angel of God visited Daniel,first he would recognize him as one greatly beloved.This is because he was fully committed to God.His heart was totally inclined towards God.As a result,it is obvious that God would show him love in return.
If we want to become God’s beloved children,we must also commit our hearts completely toward him.We should be willing and ready to stand for what we believe regardless of the cost to us.We must be people of strong convictions.
For example,if you are employed and your boss does not allow you time to go to church or to do God’s work,speak up.Tell them that you need time to be with your Maker and to serve him in whatever way.If you are being asked or forced to put on indecent apparels,e.g., miniskirts,or minidresses or half-naked or even trousers and shorts,refuse to do so.As a Christian woman,be open and them that your faith does not permit you to do it.Even if you risk losing your job.As you obey God and refuse to do what is against his will,you open the door for God’s love for you.Just like he did to Daniel.
3.) SEEK WISDOM TO ENABLE YOU IN HELPING GOD’S PEOPLE.
Solomon was also well-loved by God,as read in:
Nehemiah 13:26;
“Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.”
Why did God love Solomon so much?
Solomon was not like the other kings who came before him,eg, Saul.King Saul had his mind set only matters of ruling,and battling with the enemies of Israel, together with other minor issues.But Solomon was different.He longed to get wisdom that would enable him to important decisions ,e.g,ways to solve people’s problems,settle matters in the best manner possible and to guide the people in the ways of God;so they could rejoice in the Lord and serve him in quietness.The Lord heard his prayer and granted it.(I Kings 3:1-15)
God, therefore, blessed him with great riches and honour,even though Solomon had not asked for it.This is because God was well pleased with what he had requested for:a discernment heart to govern the people and to distinguish between right and wrong.Solomon could have been an example to be emulated in the whole Bible.However,he was led astray by foreign women in the end.Thus, Solomon departed from the ways of God.
For us to become God’s beloved children,we need to seek Godly wisdom,which can only be found in His Word,the Bible.If you’re a good reader of the Bible as a source of truth,and not as a pulp of fiction,this wisdom will enter your heart (Proverbs 2:10).Then God will help you to share this same grace with others.
The Word of God contains all wisdom pertaining to every area of life,e.g, the family,ministry, community, marriage, and life in its entirety.This means we cannot live without reading the Bible.
If we embrace wisdom,love and fully commit our hearts to God,we open doors for God’s love into our lives.We shall become greatly loved and find favourable acceptance in God’s sight.He will show us great things we do not know.
Daniel and John are the ones to whom the secrets of the things to come were revealed.And till then,we still rely on their prophecies in interpreting times in these last days.
If we become God’s dear children, everything we labour for (in the flesh) will be given to us by God himself.Just like he did for his servant Solomon, and Daniel.
God bless you.
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