You Love the Gifts. Not the Giver.

We'll never say it out loud. But the way we live says it for us.

We like the gifts from the Giver. We just don't like the Giver.

Kids do it. They love dad's provision more than they love dad. Every father knows that sting. And God — the one who didn't just send a blessing but sent His Son — knows it too.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." — John 3:16

He gave. Not a loan. Not a transaction. Love with a price tag only heaven could afford.

Are you pursuing the Giver, or just collecting what He gives? Are you in the Word to know Him, or just for the comfort of knowing things are covered?

Real faith isn't gratitude for benefits. It's a relationship with a Person.

Don't settle for loving what God does. Love God.

There's a section in the sermon where I unpacked "so loved" that took me all week to put together. Go hear it for yourself.

Pastor Fortunato
Founding Pastor & Preacher of the Word.
Pilgrim Baptist Church — Cookeville, Tennessee

https://pilgrimbaptist.church/
https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/pilgrimbaptist/