| By PKD Lee |
Deut 6:5 - You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
I can have two kinds of reaction to the presence of God. The most common is fear, which is understandable, considering who God is. The other is love, which can be rare, as we do not understand God or know how to interact with Him.
So, when He appeared to Israel at Mt. Sinai, they were terrified and asked Moses to be an intermediary for them as they wanted to get away from the presence of Yahweh. Love was notably absent.
When we try to please God by obeying the LAW, the result is fear as we know we have erred. That is why those who are living by rules find it difficult to have a strong relationship with God. When we recognize that the only standing I can have before God is not because of my works, but because of the atonement of Jesus and the new life He has given me, only then can this fear be taken away.
Some may ask, isn’t a fear of God encouraged in the Bible. The term ‘fear of God’ often appears in a positive light in the Bible, but it does not mean terror, but rather awe and respect. We will always be full of awe for God, because of what He has done for us, and because of His awesome power and other attributes, but this awe will be filled with love for Him for sending His Son to be our atonement.
God loves us, and love needs to be our predominant emotion in our relation with God. The sanctified life we lead is a means of showing our love for God. Our love for Him makes us live according to His principles and teaching. The secret of our victory over sin becomes the love we have for God.
So, how can we build this love within us? By looking at all the things He has done for our spiritual life is the best place to start. The salvation which He has given you, is the place to start. As you meditate on these, your love and confidence in God will grow, and your life will become more and more sanctified.