Nuggets from An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith by Dave Hunt -Love's Reward

Nuggets from "An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith" by Dave Hunt  -  Love's Reward

To those who love and obey Him, Christ offers an incredibly wonderful promise: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John:14:21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
See All...). This promise to manifest Himself to those who love Him implies a real communication of His presence. This is more than a strong belief that He is with us. It is a spiritual manifestation of His presence.

This intimate fellowship begins at conversion with a real communication from God’s Spirit to the believer’s spirit. God’s Spirit “beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God” (Romans:8:16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
See All...). It is not simply putting one’s name in John:3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
See All... and taking it “by faith.” There is a knowing God, a very real knowing that we are His, and an ongoing communion with Him in prayer. This does not involve visualization, journaling, or any technique, but an intimacy that He initiates and promises to maintain with those who love and obey Him.

Most people, Christians included, would jump at the chance to become an intimate friend and confidant of a world leader, an astronaut, an Olympic gold medalist, the head of a multinational corporation, or a famous heart surgeon. How many, however, neglect the infinitely more wonderful opportunity to know the God who created the universe, to have continual and intimate fellowship with the One who has all power, all wisdom, all knowledge, and who loves us immeasurably! As with anyone else, God’s companionship must be cultivated. It takes time. And we will only devote the time if we really believe that we can know God and that intimacy with Him is worthwhile.

“He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek [not success, pleasure, health, or wealth in this world, but] him” (Hebrews:11:6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
See All...). God said to Abram, “I [not land or cattle or other possessions that I will bless you with, but I] am thy shield and thine exceeding great reward” (Genesis:15:1After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
See All...). God wants to reward us with Himself. Let us not settle for any lesser rewards, for mere gifts instead of the Giver. Let us diligently pursue this intimate fellowship that He desires for each of us. Let us say with David, “O God…early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee” (Psalm:63:1(A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.) O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
See All...); and with Paul, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians:3:10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
See All...). And may knowing and loving God be our passion, as it was theirs.