Just suppose some typical person (say, like yourself) were to decide to take seriously the principles and instructions
Jesus presented in His Sermon on the Mount. Principles like:

   I think I can understand why some people seem to see a great disparity between the God of the Old and New Testaments. In a way it may seem there are two separately varied Gods trudging through the pages of these distinct covenant documents responding to the human race in a divergent manner from each other. But it is not that there are two Gods, nor a single God with a bipolar personality. Rather it is the same God starting His relationship with humanity where all healthy relationships begin—at the beginning. It went from the relatively unknown, and advanced into the realm of the increasingly known.

I just think it would be intimidating enough (it is) for the awesome God of the universe to simply one day nonchalantly saunter into our lives-–no razzle dazzle–no stunning ‘light and sound’ show, but just to show up. And this certainly seems to be the case in His relationship with Abraham. Early on, Yahweh God spoke to him; "I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless..." (Genesis 17:1-2). In essence He said: "Abraham, walk with me–be my friend!" and as the relationship grew, Abraham learned more and more about Yahweh God.

And so, the Scriptures, instead of revealing two distinct Gods of two separate covenants (relationships), make known in a progressive way, the one God who loves and woos His people into an ever closer and more intimate relationship with Him through the ages.

Consider what Brennan Manning has to say about this:
                         http://www.amazon.com/Ragamuffin-Gospel-Bedraggled-Beat-Up-Burnt/dp/1590525027/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207312952&sr=8-2
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The young boy, Samuel serving in the tabernacle responded to God:
"...Speak, I'm your servant ready to listen [obey]!"    I Samuel 3:1-10 [MSG]

This statement reflected:
  And so a person can have a believing heart that does not respond to God, but we cannot have a listening/responsive heart that does not believe or trust God!

Yes, before us are matters of immense proportions--Matters of life and of death!

LAW

Generally speaking, people are extremely wary about getting into intense relationships. We tend to get very nervous-very nervous about relationships, and when God is added to the mix, it makes it that much worse! We tend to edge away (or run!) when we sense God becoming involved in any sort or level of engagement. We are ready to skitter away at a moment’s notice from entanglements that seem to be maneuvering us beyond tolerable limits.

On the other hand, we also somehow seem to innately sense that a God-free life doesn’t or won’t work well for us either. What to do?! As I stated the other week; we like the idea of being protected, comforted, and given guidance and strength in situations that seem to require resources beyond our grasp, but we would prefer that God come at those moments, give us what we need and then go away!!

What would happen to us if we took a day to ‘hang out’ with God and actually learned what Andrew and a friend came to discover? John the baptizer had pointed Jesus out to them as He happened along and He invited them to spend the day with Him (John 1:39). And they did. He became a good friend of theirs so that they, along with others, spent vast amounts of time with Him. We might do the same.
 
                                                                       Image by Malias http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
                  
God wants to draw us into a very close relationship with Himself because He knows full well that that is what we most need. Since He is a very close up and personal God, He doesn’t want to deal with us at arm’s length. But He also knows that it must be our decision. He will draw as near to us as we want Him to—and He wants to, for He is the One who showers us with passionate kisses.

                                                                                                                                 LAW

Our youngest daughter's last day at Indiana Wesleyan University--
                                                                            BerlyKim did us and herself proud!!
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We know God loves us, but does He like  us? God has obligated Himself to love us, for "God is Love!" (I John 4:8). Does He love us because He has  to love us?  Or in His love, does He just tolerate us?  Is it possible that He actually likes  us?

Our God is the proximate God in that He is the one who comes nearest  to us (that’s what the word proximate means–To approach nearest or next  to another). So near does He come to us that Jesus in promising to send His divine Spirit said; "He shall be WITH  you and IN  you" (John 14:17). And so, on the Day of Pentecost, this divine Spirit was poured out not only on the eleven apostles of Jesus, but upon all of humanity in line with what God through His prophet Joel many years before had predicted would happen: "I will pour out my Spirit in those days . . . on all people" (Acts 2:17-21).

If God doesn’t actually like us, then He has a weird way of showing it, for He has come along side us, in fact, has come to dwell within us to guide us, comfort us, strengthen us, encourage us and to keep us safe. That says something to me. How about to you? Yes, God does love us, but even more, He actually LIKES  us for He would not deal with us in such an intimate fashion if He didn’t!

                  
Passionate Kisses!

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                   He is the one who draws nearest to us for;
                      
                                                                                                                  LAW