Enslavement or liberation?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise."
Psalm 111:10

"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"
Romans 2:4

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Galatians 5:1

"Take me away with you--let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers. We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. How right they are to adore you!"
Song of Songs 1:4

What motivates a person to obey and follow the Lord? Is it the fear factor- that God is viewed as a cruel and impartial being who metes out punishment without regard to grace and mercy? Or is it because of a revelation of God's lovingkindness and how he cherishes us that makes us fall so in love with God-the-Father/our Bridegroom, that we desire nothing more than to do his will, as the revelations sweep over us? Obedience that is fear driven, like a beaten down dog that fears his master's next punishment, does not allow a person to go deep with God. They never really are able to run after, seek to intimately know more of, the eternal Lover of their souls because their Christian lives are performance based and driven by fear and shame- using formulas and checklists to do what they feel will avoid the next punishment/ reprisal from an impersonal taskmaster. Sadly, I would say this is all that many know about God.
Beloved, God wants to draw each of us- with lovingkindness, love,mercy, hope, and grace are in His hands, and are available to us- for the asking. He is always close by, up close and very personal. The scriptures read, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
This is love "that is better than wine"- this is love that drives the beloved to please the Lover. This love brings freedom, real freedom, to worship The Uncreated Everlasting God, in spirit and truth, like David worshipped with total abandon.
Seek God today, love Him with all your heart, draw near. He is waiting for you!