ReFreshed by God's Love

Before we can be refreshed in God, we need the right reflex toward God.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Reflex

a way of thinking or behaving

All of us have some type of reflex when we think about God.

We either shrink back in fear or when draw near with confidence and affection.

What do you think it is that determines our reflex when it comes to God? What do you think it is that causes us to want to shrink back in fear of God or to draw near to God?

It’s possible that there is more than one thing, but here is what I want to submit tonight: I believe that what drives our reflex toward God is what we believe God feels about us.

Notice, I DID NOT say what we SHOULD believe about what God feels about us.

What actually drives how we respond to God, our initial reflex toward God, is what we believe…he feels…when He thinks about us.

How do you think God feels about you?

Is he:

Sad or Happy?

Disappointed or Proud?

Disgusted or Pleased?

Here is what I believe: If we genuine want to be refreshed in God, we have to know how God feels about us...

And for that, we are going to turn to

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

“The Lord”

YHWH

The One true God

He is Holy, Holy, Holy.

He is totally distinct.

He is far different than we are.

His thoughts are higher, his ways are better,

Literally this is a name that God gave himself…in order to communicate how distinct He was.

He is infinite in his power, knowledge, and wisdom. He does whatever he wants whenever he wants.

“Your God”

He isnt just a God…He is “your” God

He cares about you, he is concerned with you…your needs, wants, desires....

He desires to be *your* God

He wants you to pour your heart out to him.

The Greatest command in the Bible is that we love the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind. Not loving God therefore is the worst of all human sins. What I have in mind though is His love for us, His deep emotional, loving movement toward people He created in His image. So let’s not reverse what the Bible sets in order:

“In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” ().

Our love for God is a reflex of His love for us. He loved us first!

The one thing that gives us hope, the one thing that conquers despair and brings strength for the struggle for assurance that no matter how bad the problem may be, God loves us.

Pain becomes bearable and tomorrow no longer terrifies when you soul is touched with the reality of God’s delight in you.

reFreshed by God’s Love for Me