What Is God Like?
God's love is unconditional and given to all, and we can experience it by cultivating a deep relationship with Him through trust, faith, and obedience.
Andrew Murray explores the nature of God, comparing Him to the sun that shines generously on all, regardless of their state. He emphasizes that just as the sun continuously pours out its light, God is always willing to bestow His love and life upon us, nurturing our growth and fruitfulness. Murray challenges the notion that God withholds His presence, urging believers to examine their own experiences and expectations of communion with Him. He encourages a deeper understanding of God's willingness to bless and transform us, highlighting the beauty and potential that God desires to cultivate in our lives.
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Dear reader, we have such wrong thoughts of God. What is God like? I know no image more beautiful and instructive than that of the sun. The sun is never weary of shining;--of pouring out his beneficent rays upon both the good and the evil. You might close up the windows with blinds or bricks, the sun would shine upon them all the same; though we might sit in darkness, in utter darkness, the shining would be just the same. God's sun shines on every leaf; on every flower; on every blade of grass; on everything that springs out of the ground. All receive this wealth of sunshine until they grow to perfection and bear fruit. Would He who made that sun be less willing to poor out His love and life into me?
The sun--what beauty it creates!
And my God,--would He not delight more in creating a beauty and a fruitfulness in me?--such, too, as He has promised to give? And yet some say, when asked why they do not live in unbroken communion with God, "God does not give it to me, I do not know why; but that is the only reason I can give you--He has not given it to me." You remember the parable of the one who said, "I know thou art an hard master, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strawed," asking and demanding what thou hast not given. Oh! let us come and ask why it is that the believer lives such a low experience.
Sermon Outline
- God's Nature is Like the Sun points: - Unconditional Shining - Beneficial to All
- God's Love is Unconditional points: - Given to All - Not Dependent on Human Worth
- Human Experience of God's Love points: - Varies from Person to Person - Dependent on Relationship with God
- Understanding God's Ways points: - Not Always Easy to Understand - Requires Trust and Faith
Key Quotes
“Would He who made that sun be less willing to poor out His love and life into me?” — Andrew Murray
“And yet some say, when asked why they do not live in unbroken communion with God, 'God does not give it to me, I do not know why; but that is the only reason I can give you--He has not given it to me.'” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- We must trust and have faith in God's goodness and sovereignty to experience His love in our lives.
- Our relationship with God is the key to experiencing His love and living in communion with Him.
- We must not judge God's ways based on our limited understanding, but rather trust in His goodness and sovereignty.