A couple of weeks ago, I shared a video on what we can learn from the Puritans. There are two things I remember from this video. Two things I want to emphasise here:
- God is not primarily looking for our outward compliance with certain rules. He wants to transform our hearts and attitudes.
- The Puritans knew about a key to experiencing such a transformation. They focused on the character of God.
I want to share with you a passage of scripture that clearly introduces this concept. Please have a look at 2 Peter 1:3 (New International Version):
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
Knowing God and getting to know Him better is the key to the power of leading a godly life. Just spend time contemplating His glory and His goodness. Spend time worshipping Him in His greatness and in His glory.
Thank God for all the good things in your life. Thank Him for the spiritual blessings you have experienced.
You know, in my country, in Germany, whenever something bad happens, people are quick to question God’s love. How can a loving God, who is in control, permit such things to happen?
However, they don’t care to thank God for all the good things they experience. Nor do they turn to God because of their own sinful and unjust behaviours.
I do not know what people are like in your country. I do not know about your personal attitudes toward God.
These Days, It is Difficult to Write about the Love of God
As I intend to write about 1 Corinthians 13 on this site, I want to point you to the permanent love of God. Yet I find it difficult doing so.
It is hard to write about the love of God when people do not really care about God. They feel God has to guarantee their needs and that their selfish desires be fulfilled.
As long as they are happy, they will perhaps sing joyful worship songs. When difficulties arise, they begin to complain or fall into despair.
Modern man seems to consider himself the centre of the world. If a brand of belief in God appears conducive to his goals, fine. Otherwise, he or she may dismiss it.
God Calls Us to Look at Our Own Lives First
The God of the Bible does not primarily call us to lament the sins of others and the evil happening around us. He calls us to return to Him and to consider His commandments for ourselves. As we become aware of the sinfulness of our own behaviours, we may ask for God’s forgiveness. This is the way to get to know the love of God.
God does care about the evil around us. Yet he calls us to believe in Him and to become disciples of Jesus. He wants us to become light and salt in this world. He wants to make believers a positive influence in this world.
You may look at stories in the bible. You may consult reports of church history. When some individuals earnestly returned to God and prayed, God often provided a way out. Societies did change for the better, and impending evils were averted.
It is not our observance of rituals or ceremonies that counts in God’s eyes. He cares about the attitudes of our hearts. He cares about what we do in our everyday lives.
As we admit our own sinfulness and sinful behaviours, we can receive God’s forgiveness. We get to learn something about the love of God.
As we study the bible and pray, we can learn more about the love of God. As we meditate on God’s love and as we praise Him, we may experience further change in our own attitudes.