Читать книгу Greater Intimacy With Our Creator - Robert Sr. Eldredge Sr. - Страница 14

Although our Creator earnestly desires for us to return his love, our love for him must be sincere and genuine. We might just as well be completely open and honest before him, for he already knows the innermost “thoughts and intents” of our hearts.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Because of what Jesus accomplished, we already have the assurance of God’s love for us. If we should try to gain greater intimacy by doing “good works” without having genuine love in our hearts, then our false hypocritical love will become a discordant note in God’s ear.

The apostle Paul said it this way:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

“If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV)