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Discerning the Love of God

Interesting title, ain’t it? Well, today I would like to shed light on why many of us are walking in the cities, in the fields, on the streets, with dissatisfaction in our hearts. There are far too many who can relate to the expression of turmoil and emotional pain. And before some of you shut this website off, calling me a legalist when I say that we should be discerning the love of God, I just want to let you know there is a mystery within these words. For those who don’t know of this prince let me introduce the mystery of this great prince’s love for you.

Does God Hate Sinners of Love Them?

I saw a recent clip that has gone viral. I don’t want to get specific, but it’s from the Reformed Christian movement and basically, they talk about the misunderstandings in the Church. These preachers remind us of the common saying, “God loves the sinner but hates the sin.”

They then explain that this saying is found nowhere in the Bible. And they go further to mention not only that this is not found in the Bible but that it is a completely false understanding of God.

Why… they say that God hates the sinner and the sin. So, not only does He hate sin, He hates the sinner. They further support their points with scriptures which are found in the Bible such as the following.

Psalm 5:4-6 (World English Bible)
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

What’s implied from this point onwards is that only born-again, believing Christians are loved by God. Now, I completely understand their point but I can discern that the full beauty of the Gospel was not shown. This is not where they should have stopped in their explanation because there’s so much more.

Not only do they harp on this idea as if it’s a huge revelation. And these clips fail not in garnering views for one main reason. People don’t understand how nondiscriminatory the love of God is.

Remember Jacob and Esau?

So, let’s actually look not only at what the scriptures say but at what they mean. Let’s bring back that frequently quotes passage of scripture in support of God’s hatred of sinners.

But wait a second, before anything, let’s include a bit more context…

Psalm 5:4-6 (New King James Version)
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

When King David was being inspired by the Holy Spirit, he prayed and wrote what is there in Psalm 5. And as you read verse 7 and 8, you realize that King David makes a distinction between the sinners who God cannot stand, and sinners like him.

Note here that he is not saying that he is perfect. On the contrary, He is saying that when He goes to God’s house, He recieves a multitude of mercy. So, what’s really being said here is not that God hates sinners, rather, it’s saying that there are sinners who refuse to know God and there are sinners who decide to go to God.

We see this same princple again with the following Bible verse

Romans 9:13 (New King James Version)
13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Does Romans 9:13 say that God hate Esau because he’s a sinner? Yes. But does that then mean Jacob’s a goody two shoes? Nope.

Discerning the Love of God

Jacob was not righteous when considered by his works according to the Ten Commandments (even though it would come later). Same goes for David. But, the difference between Esau and Jacob or the difference between the wicked people David talks about and David, is the heart.

The heart of Jacob was willing to have a relationship with God. The heart of David was after God. Esau rejected God all the time, rejected His inheritance for a soup, rejected God’s plan for his marriage, etc…

And so, God who by nature hates sin, will hate those who love sin. And there are certain people who have hardened their hearts so much so that nothing can ever convince them to turn to God. Therefore, if a person commits to rejecting the love of God without any room for change, then God’s anger will remain upon that sinner.

That doesn’t mean God doesn’t love them, but it means God hates them for not turning away from what they’re doing, and He is angry with their stubbornness. This is just like how an earthly father will be angry at his son if he grows up to betray his country and becomes an international criminal. But, deep inside, the father still has a remnant of love for the son and as soon as that son changes his ways, the father’s love will appear.

Ezekiel 33:11 (New King James Version)
11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Therefore, if you feel that bad because you think God is angry at you, turn to Jesus, accept His free gift of salvation. He paid the price for your sins on the cross so now you can enter into a relationship with God.

And when you believe in Jesus, you receive His righteousness so that He will never be angry at you again as He is with a sinner. Any sinner can become righteous if they come to Jesus. So, to conclude, God loves everyone. But, everyone has to make the choice if they want to reconcile their relationship with God or remain strangers.

Romans 5:8 (New King James Version)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

To summarize, God ultimately loves the sinner but He hates the sin. God may be angry at a sinner for their actions similar to how a parent may be disappointed with their child. But, at the end of the day, He shows grace and mercy to those who trust Him.

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Transfigured by the Starter of Heartbeats

Closer than Ever

Change. It is such a lovely thing to change for the better. When you recognize your faultiness, it is so wonderful to improve. Now, there are those of you who suffer from depression, anxiety, addiction, mental health disorders, and a list of other things. But, no matter the suffering or issue, there is always a solution. And to experience change in all its glory, I invite you to be transfigured by the starter of heartbeats. Continue reading to find out what this all means.

Who is the Starter of Heartbeats?

Before talking about anything concerning the thought of change, I must introduce you to the starter of heartbeats. Believe it or not, no one knows the precise second or detailing of time when your heart first began to beat within your mother’s womb. Nobody knows!

Think about it… Your biological parents, your doctor, your closest friend, your spouse, your romantic interest, and every other individual, except one, knows not the first heartbeat that echoed in your mother’s womb.

Job 31:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

The starter of heartbeats is the only one who does know your first heartbeat. And that being is none other than God, Himself. I can only imagine the care He invested into you when He made you in a unique but lovely way. He ignited that human heart of yours into being, He knows you to the most intimate detail. It is only God who knows you better than you know yourself.

And I strongly hold onto the belief that God came down as Jesus Christ to Earth as a human being to die on the cross as a sacrifice for you. He suffered the penalty for your sins so that when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you would not have to pay the penalty in hell. Instead, His blood on the cross allows us full freedom to be with Him in Heaven.

And only Jesus Christ lost His heartbeat to give you new life and new meaning. A purpose although new, was His plan before time began. That is why three days after His crucifixion, Jesus’ resurrection means so much. His resurrection means your heartbeat will always belong to Him.

Jeremiah 10:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

How to Experience That Transfiguration?

Continuing on, God designs your heart beat in such a way that it never stops beating. It’s working it’s hardest to keep you alive.

There is such importance which emanates from your life because God wants you alive so badly. Your life is significant and if you want to ever remind yourself of that, just feel your heartbeat, it constantly works hard to keep your precious life going.

Now, when you know your life is so precious, you must realize who He says you are. In the Bible, it talks about how Jesus Christ takes three of His closest disciples to witness His transfiguration.

Matthew 17:1 World English Bible (WEB)
17 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.

Upon further examination of the scriptures, one sees that Jesus Christ does this after six days from the end of the previous chapter. This signals the seventh day, a day of rest as God declares it in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 2:2-3 King James Version (KJV)
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

So, Jesus wants you to rest on His grace and when you do that, He fully reveals Himself to you. He revealed Himself in all His power and glory to His disciples during the transfiguration

Now, to be transfigured means to be transformed into what you really are! It is like unveiling what you really are.

Matthew 17:2 World English Bible (WEB)
2 He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.

And when you rest in His grace, transfiguration’s a matter of time. He will unveil who you’re supposed to be, to you. You are a spiritual being and God created you for His purpose.

What Does It Mean to Be Transfigured?

This means that when you rest on God’s unfailing grace and realize that you are His beloved child, there is nothing which can stop you. It is so important to know that you are of His blood and that He loves you.

In the stormy situation when it is easy to become frantic or worried, learn or at least practice your trust in God. Lay your hand on your chest and remember that God started that heartbeat, He’s not going to let anything destroy it or cause it worry!

Romans 8:28 King James Version (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The verse above says that we should know this hence why the verse starts with “And we know.” It says that God will ensure our bad situation or good situation will end up blessing us in the end. And you’ve got to know that you are according to His purpose.

His plan for your life is the only way you will ever have some true meaning. Without Him, there is no purpose. With Him, you’re full of purpose.

So, in conclusion, rest on His grace, and witness the transfigured Christ in your life. I can only imagine how it feels to see the transfigured Christ in all His glory and splendour living in us. That is why we can be transfigured, too. Being transfigured by Him means that we change into who we are supposed to be.

When people see us, they should see someone who is living for God’s glory, who’s mental health is blessed and secured by God, and they should see us as loving people.

We should not be scared of God or what He has in plan for our lives, we should only respond to Jesus’ caring words, and understand that we are His beloved children. Let us be transfigured and understand how God really sees us!

Matthew 17:6-7 World English Bible (WEB)
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 7 Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.”