How Does Someone Give God a Hug?

How does someone show God love? It's possible everyone's considered this question, especially one of Jesus' closest disciples, Mary Magdalene. She was a sinner from whom Jesus cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). Some even speculate Mary was the adulteress Jesus saved in John chapter 8. What is certain, though, is Mary loved Jesus. She loved Him so much that His death on the cross devastated her (John 20:11). She was crying at His grave, until she cried out with joy when she saw her Savior alive (John 20:16). One could imagine Mary rushed to give Jesus a big loving hug, and this might be why Jesus tells her, "Do not hold on to Me," (John 20:17). How could someone not hold on to their Savior? The most common way people show love is through physical affection. How then can someone show love to God, if they can't give Him a hug?

One way someone can show love to God is by serving Him. Now, God does not need anyone's service (Acts 17:25), but He grants His children the privilege of doing so. Jesus explained this, when He told a parable about "the Son of Man coming in His glory," (Matthew 25:31). In His parable, Jesus says to those who follow Him, "I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me," (Matthew 25:35-36). Naturally, those who hear this will be confused. If God does not need service (no need for food or clothes), then how can someone serve God (feed Him and clothe Him)? In response, Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me," (Matthew 25:40). What any Child of God does for another son or daughter is ultimately done for God Himself. So, if a Child of God gives a comforting hug to one of Jesus' disciples, then they have given Jesus a hug.

"If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one
of these little ones who is My disciple,
truly I tell you, that person will certainly
not lose their reward," (Matthew 10:42).

So, it is possible to give Jesus a hug, but is a hug the best way to love Jesus? Physical affection may be how people instinctively show love, but God's ways are greater than anyone else's. He says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts," (Isaiah 55:8-9). If someone wants to love God in the best way, then they must learn what God's thoughts are on the matter. The apostle Paul affirms this, when he says a Christian's love abounds "more and more in knowledge and depth of insight," (Philippians 1:9). A Christian's love for God will develop, as they grow in knowledge of Him.

One way people can grow in their knowledge and love for God is by learning His commands. In fact, God shows people His ways through His commands. When God gave the titular ten commandments, He described Himself, saying "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me," (Exodus 20:2-3). God's giving of commandment one illustrates how He sets people free (John 8:36). When someone obeys the ten commandments, they acknowledge that only God can save them. Their obedience shows they know God. If love grows through knowledge, and knowledge of God is shown through obeying Him, then to obey God is to love Him. Right along with this, Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commands," (John 14:15). So, it's possible God loves hugs, but Scripture says a better way to show God love is by learning about Him and obeying Him.

"In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands.
And His commands are not burdensome," (1 John 5:3).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Keith Green: The Sheep and the Goats (Inspired by)