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QUALITIES JEHOVAH LOVES
FROM HIS SERVANTS.
LOVE,
MERCY, JUSTICE, AND PRAISING HIS NAME.
There are of
course other qualities that Jehovah loves, but these four are most important to
have and to practice. I have already conveyed important matters relating to the
qualities of mercy (1)
and love, (2)
and how it is impossible to show true love to another that brings benefit,
until his or her spiritual need and disposition is accurately known. (1 Cor 13:12,13). But certain misguided assumptions still persist in the hearts and
minds of mankind, and hypocrisy is still practised in the name of virtue. Let me
qualify the reasons why there is crucial meaning and importance in the need and
act of offering praises to God.
PRAISING GOD.
In order to be
able to offer praise to God, we need sincere and heartfelt appreciation of His
Divine qualities. The greater our knowledge of Jehovah, the greater our spirit
progression in righteousness, and the more acceptable are our praises to Him.
Conversely, can those who hate righteousness and righteous conduct from others
offer praise to God? Could malevolent or hypocritical persons praise Him?
In answer to these questions the Word of God reveals that Jehovah does not allow
such wilful dispositions to get to know Him at all. (Rom 1:28-32. 2 Cor 6:14).
We have ample evidence of the
awesome creative power and wisdom of God in visible creation all around us,
which is more than sufficient for us to believe in the invisible and Supreme
Creative Being of God, who is worthy of great praise. (Rom 1:20). But to
those who have spiritual seeing, we have the Spirit of His written Word, and an
anointing by Holy Spirit from God within His chosen servants. All those who
through accurate knowledge of God offer up praises to Him with heartfelt
sincerity, are righteous, and this is a quality we must acquire and retain, for
it relates to the quality of our praises to God. Our sincere praises to God are
a measure of our spirit condition. Although we know that Jehovah has no need of
praise from anyone, every spirit, whether in heaven or on earth, has need to
praise Him, for it is an indication of one's unity with God. (Heb 13:15,16).
JUSTICE.
Just as an
unprincipled man cannot show mercy, love, or give praise to God, nor is he able
to administer justice. For justice is based on moral principles according to
righteousness. (Prov 21:3). Even the limited quality of justice administered by
people of this "Esau" age would be overthrown by an absence of the moral
principles on which justice is based. Of course, secular justice of this age is
greatly inferior to the Justice of God, as He sees into all things. But while
due to human imperfection the as yet unpractised justice of those trained in
righteousness is of a standard superior to that of secular justice, it still
falls short of Divine Justice. Secular law is administered by those ruling as an
object of fear as to the bad deed. (Rom 13:3). Soon this unhappy state of
affairs will be tolerated no longer, and will be replaced by the perfected
heavenly Kingdom of judges and underpriests of God. (Rev 20:4-6. 1
Cor 6:1-3).
(1)
See Page 21/8/90.
(2) See Page 868.
2/9/90.
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