"Master, Mission, Mate" Chapter 4: Master

Again, I am skipping a previous chapter, which would be 3, in order to give you something worthy to eat and digest.

This chapter focuses on who God is and is not. Graves lists five lies that are "subtle but dangerous beliefs that creep into our thinking and affect our actions."

Before I list them, I want to share a sentence in this book.

"It's hard to walk through this life without picking up some wrong thinking along the way."

Lie #1: God isn't aware.

Lie #2: God doesn't care.

Lie #3: God loves me; God loves me not.

Lie #4: God is smaller than my problems.

Lie #5: God wants to squash my joy.

It is funny how our views of God can continue to be false when we don't know Him and don't spend time with Him. We make the same accusations, with others we don't know.

My sister asked me, "How can I love someone that I hate? For example, I hate terrorists." I later responded (I can't take any credit for this response. I had a friend help me) by saying, "Do you know any terrorists, I mean truly know a terrorist. Would it make a difference if you did?"

I bring that up because you may have said that you hate God for specific reasons. But do you know Him. For me, I love God but I am still learning who He is. I call that... a relationship.

I had this view that I can be apart from God by my actions (the things I do or more so the things I know I am not suppose to do but still do them anyway). I know I can be apart from God if I were to reject and blaspheme Him from my life. But even in that case, He is waiting to pour out His love for you and me. His love is that great.

Graves says: This reasoning [that when I'm bad, I fall to the bottom of God's 'love list'] gives us far too much responsibility. You didn't create yourself. You don't keep your heart beating. Why then do you think you're responsible for keeping the love relationship between you and God going?

That conversation I had with my friend on Sunday started after we stopped by his girlfriend's work to say hi. When we got there, she was busy, so he said hi and bye. Nothing romantic. Nothing important to write down if you're writing paperback romantic fiction novels with half-naked, Fabio-like men on the cover. But I told him I need to write that down as tips on how to treat a girl.

He responded by saying that she said something similar. "She asked me, 'Why are you so good to me?' I said, 'Because I love God.' She said, 'Not because you love me?' I said, "I do love you; I love God more."

What is fascinating is this truth that when you love God more, your love for others gets bigger. Think of a water balloon. As you fill up your heart (balloon) with God's love (water), your heart gets bigger and bigger. Your love for God fills up your heart. So you and God can soak others with that love.

Think about the things you enjoy in life. (Selah).

For me, I enjoy music, films, words, people, my senses, and I can continue but you understand. I want you to grasp that God created those things with you in mind. Graves follows up by saying, "The Lord Jesus had you in mind when He made the sun and the moon and when He flung the stars in the sky. He knew you'd look up now and then, and He wanted to delight you. He was thinking of you when He created those things. He was thinking of you when He invented love, passion, and romance too."

I think about how attractive women are. And I am so glad that God did that. Not because I can stare at them or do things with them, but it reminds me that God loves me enough to spend time creating beauty (This is not to score points with female readers).

The more I spend time with Him, and have a stronger relationship, my love with someone will grow as well.

Here is a list of how much Jesus loves you (as ascribed in the book):

1) He put that love in action by leaving heaven to come walk beside you (John 1:14).

2) He endured every temptation so He could sympathize with you (Hebrews 4:15).

3) He went to the cross so you could be His (Hebrews 12:2).

4) He chose you and loved you while you were in love with your sin (Romans 5:8).

5) He initiated your relationship and gave you the ability to love Him back (1 John 4:19).

6) He refuses to let anything come between you and Him (Romans 8:38-39).




I will end with a verse for you to digest. (Please do not vomit this verse out of your mouth).

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful..." (2 Timthy 2:13 NASB).