8. Can we love anything or anyone besides God?
Ultimate love for God demands that we love all that God loves, for His sake (Matthew 10:37).
9. How can we love people or things for God’s sake?
First, we can love what reflect and reveals the Creator (James 3:9, Ps 19:1, Jas 1:17). Second, we can love all that God commands us to as an act of loving obedience (Jo 14:15, 13:34, 1 Pet 2:17). Third, we can love what God loves and hate what He hates (Mt 5:43-45, 25:31-46, Prov 6:16-19, Phil 4:8).
10. What kind of love should we give to God?
Our love for God should correspond to His supremacy and His holy nature. He should be ultimate in our loves, and we should love Him with ordinate affection.
11. What is ordinate affection?
Ordinate affection is the holy desire for God, in intention and expressions, that corresponds with God’s nature.
12. What is the danger of loving God wrongly?
Our hearts may deceive us into loving a god in our own image, or rejoicing in our own feelings. God is unworthy of inordinate affection, and of undiscerning expressions of worship.
13. How can we love God ultimately, supremely, and appropriately?
God must graciously reveal Himself to us (Mt 11:25-27, 1 Jo 4:19), and then teach our hearts to respond appropriately to Him (Ps 34:11, Phil 1:9-11, Heb 5:14).
14. How does God reveal Himself?
Within the Triune Godhead, the three Persons work differently and yet in harmony to magnify the Beauty of God, and bring sinners to taste and see this glory (Eph 1:3-14).
About David de Bruyn
David de Bruyn pastors New Covenant Baptist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minnesota and the University of South Africa (D.Th.). Since 1999, he has presented a weekly radio program that is heard throughout much of central South Africa. He also blogs at Churches Without Chests.
