Seven Things God Delights In According to the Bible
The love of God is one of the most profound and recurring themes throughout the Bible. It serves as the foundation of the Christian faith, influencing the way believers live, worship, and interact with others. The Bible paints a rich and multifaceted picture of God’s love, showcasing its depth and how it is extended to His people, His creation, and the moral values that reflect His character.
Quick View
This list explores seven significant ways God’s love is revealed in scripture, along with relevant Bible verses to offer deeper insights into His love for mankind and the world.
God Loves Those Who Love Him
God’s love is reciprocal, beautifully highlighted in Proverbs 8:17, where God declares, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” This shows us that seeking and loving God personally brings us closer to His affection.
This love relationship is seen in countless biblical figures. For example, Mary of Bethany demonstrated her love by sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His teaching (Luke 10:39), and she was deeply loved by Him in return (John 11:5). Seeking and loving God fosters an intimate connection with Him.
God Loves the Poor and Oppressed
Throughout the Bible, God’s heart for the poor and the marginalized is unmistakable. Psalm 140:12 declares, “I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” God’s compassion for the vulnerable is a common thread, seen in commands to care for widows, orphans, and strangers (Deuteronomy 10:18).
Jesus carried this mission forward, ministering to the sick, the outcast, and the downtrodden, demonstrating the Father’s heart for those in need. God’s love for the oppressed reminds us to extend love and kindness to those who are often overlooked.
God Loves Justice and Righteousness
An unshakable characteristic of God’s nature is His love for justice and righteousness. Isaiah 61:8 says, “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing.” God’s love is revealed in His desire for fairness and moral rightness in all things.
He calls believers to reflect this in their actions, urging them to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). To live in ways that honor justice pleases God and reflects His own righteousness.
God Loves Those Who Obey Him
One of the clear messages in Scripture is that God’s love is particularly drawn to those who demonstrate their love for Him through obedience. Jesus Himself reinforces this in John 14:23, saying, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
Obedience reflects trust, faith, and devotion, which are deeply valued in God’s eyes. From the Old Testament’s call to follow God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9) to the New Testament’s teachings on faith leading to action, the Bible highlights that God’s love manifests strongly with those who walk in His ways.
God Loves Specific Individuals
Throughout Scripture, God’s personal love for individuals is evident. He loved King David, calling him “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22). David’s faith, devotion, and repentance made him an object of God’s special affection.
Similarly, God had a particular love for Moses, choosing him to lead the Israelites and describing him as one He spoke to “face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11). These examples demonstrate God’s deep, individual love for those who draw near to Him and trust His plans.
In contrast to God’s love, it is possible to be on the receiving end of God’s love. God hated Esau, as stated in Malachi 1:1-3 and reiterated in Romans 9:13. These passages highlight God’s sovereign choice and rejection of Esau in lieu to His love for Jacob, emphasizing His will and partiality to His chosen who are faithful to Him.
God Loves Israel
God’s love for the nation of Israel is one of the most prominent themes in the Old Testament. He selected Israel as His chosen people, declaring in Deuteronomy 7:7-8, “The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples… but it was because the Lord loved you.”
Despite Israel’s repeated disobedience, God’s love remains steadfast. Jeremiah 31:3 underscores this, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” His covenantal love is enduring, serving as a reminder of His faithfulness.
God Loves His Faithful Children
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1
Throughout scripture, there are countless verses that highlight God’s love for His people. From John 3:16, which speaks of God sending His Son out of love for the world, to Psalm 103:13, where God’s compassion for His children is compared to that of a loving father, the Bible consistently reminds us of God’s amazing love and care to His Faithful children.
God’s Love in Action
The Bible weaves a powerful narrative of God’s love for obedience, justice, individuals, and His broader communities like Israel and the Church. Each expression of His love carries profound implications for how we live as believers. This love is not only unconditional but also intentional, deeply shaping our purpose and values.
Have you experienced the depth of God’s love personally? Explore His love further by seeking Him in Scripture, prayer, and community. Reach out to those around you with this incredible love and reflect His heart in your daily life.
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We dedicate our lives to God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our mission is to share the good news — bringing hope, proclaiming the message of deliverance, and planting the seeds of saving faith in the hearts of others.
Our desire is to extend and share with others the love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God, which are available to all through faith in Him. Our goal is to encourage others to hold on to this message, enjoy the peace that comes from His promises, and find the pathway to life as we learn the Father’s ways and live by them.
If you need prayer, encouragement, or assistance of any kind, please contact us. It would be our pleasure to help and bless you in any way we can!
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3)
Let us close in prayer:
After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
