\u201cTaking Love For Granted\u201d by nakedpastor David Hayward<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>Why are we told to not take God\u2019s love for granted?<\/p>\n
Negatively, it\u2019s usually used to control us. It\u2019s used to make us afraid of not being able to get it or keep it. It\u2019s used to dictate to us how to live our lives, how to feel, think and behave.<\/p>\n
Positively, it\u2019s used to make us continually mindful of God\u2019s love, always thinking about it, always thankful for it, always living up to it.<\/p>\n
I want to suggest that neither of these are perfect. Obviously, the first is fear based. Less obviously, so is the second one.<\/p>\n
As a parent, the last thing I want is for my kids to feel they can\u2019t get my love and are always afraid of losing it if they do. The second last thing I want is for my kids to always be thinking about how much I love them and for them to constantly be mindful of it and living up to it. Like I\u2019m doing them a favor by loving them. No. As a parent, I want them to take my love for them for granted so that they don\u2019t even have to assume that I love them. They just know it, deep down in the fibers of their being, and that they never have to question it, earn it, try to keep it or even be thinking about it. I believe this assumption on their part will prepare to send them into the world fearless, compassionate and just.<\/p>\n
Do we think about every breath we take? Are we conscious of it or always feeling the need to be thankful for it? Or do we just breathe? Sure, occasionally we might burst forth in eternal praise for fresh air. But we take it for granted.<\/p>\n
If there is a God, and if God is love, then why can\u2019t we take this love for granted like we take the air we breathe for granted? Isn\u2019t this the kind of love that one would expect from such a God? Isn\u2019t this the kind of love that propelled Jesus into his world fearless, compassionate and just, never having to wonder if his father loved him, never feeling the need to get it or keep it, indeed, taking it for granted?<\/p>\n
What if you suddenly surgically removed that cancer from your life? What if you removed the fear of not getting God\u2019s love? What if you removed the fear of not keeping it? What if you didn\u2019t even have to think about it or be thankful for it? What if, one day, while you were saying your prayers, you said to God, \u201cFather, thank you so much for loving me!\u201d and God actually responded, \u201cWhat are you talking about? Why are you feeling so insecure? Why do you feel so needy? Stop feeling like I\u2019m doing you a favor! Of course I love you! This is the greatest \u2018of course\u2019 of all time. No! Please! Take my love for granted!\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead of anxiously looking forward to getting it or thankfully looking back that you got it why not just live in it?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Why are we told to not take God\u2019s love for granted? Negatively, it\u2019s usually used to control us. It\u2019s used to make us afraid of not being able to get it or keep it. It\u2019s used to dictate to us how to live our lives, how to feel, think and behave. Positively, it\u2019s used to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":349,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,1531],"tags":[603,3037,3350,722],"class_list":["post-13726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cartoons","category-videos","tag-david_hayward","tag-gods_love_cartoon","tag-god_loves_you_cartoon","tag-nakedpastor"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>