@keiw1
David - the adulterer, turned murderer!
Why did God love him so? I never thought it was because he obeyed God.
I always thought it was because God knew his heart...the screw up that he was, even...'even more so', yes.
Weird isn't it - Jesus chooses Paul, a killer of Christians to appear to!
Go figure.
Obeys or denies him? What is up with God loving screw ups,
since Jesus only did the will of the Father?
Hmm, then on top of that Jesus promises Paradise to such a criminal - had he ever obeyed anyone, but his selfish ego?
No
, I don't think obeying is the prerequisite of God being with someone.
As we also see with Hosea and Gomer or even the father with his prodigal son.
God's heart is something to be understood...as He said to Jeremiah...
"...know and understand me...''
Also, I believe MANY right here have suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and even near death,
to know whether they have faith and trust fearing nothing.