Eternal Quote by Terryl L. Givens
““If we are co-eternal with God, then it is not God's creation of the human out of nothing that defines our essential relationship to him. It is His freely made choice to inaugurate and sustain loving relationships, and our choice to reciprocate, that are at the core of our relationship to the Divine.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gospel of the Christian East, Terryl L. Givens, 2004
Our bond with the Divine is rooted in mutual love, not creation ex nihilo; it depends on God’s invitation and our response.
In simple terms: Relationship with God is a two‑way love pact.
Key Takeaway
Choose love, reciprocate.
Themes
theity
relationship
choice
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- worship
- personal prayer
- ethical decisions
- interpersonal trust
Key Concepts
Divine love
free will
reciprocity
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you feel invited into a loving relationship with the divine?
- How does reciprocating love change your life?
A Different Perspective
Assumes belief in a personal deity; not universal.
![“the biblical scholar Richard Elliott Friedman notes that “probably the most remarkable difference of all” in disparate passages “is their different ways of picturing God.” Some depict “a deity who can regret things that he has done ([Gen.] 6:6, 7), . . . a deity who can be ‘grieved to his heart’…” quote by Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2ae/terryl-l-givens-20241_bible_the-biblical-scholar-richard-elliott-fri_292417.jpg)
