Why Would God Do That?

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage..."

The Driving Force of Love

Have you ever seen the amazing things that someone's love causes them to do? People will give until they have nothing left, sacrifice what they cannot spare, work long after their physical strength gives out...and even lay down their own lives - all to help the people they love. No other force on earth will motivate someone like love does.

I've seen scorned and humiliated spouses (husbands and wives) stand beside and forgive the other.
I've seen parents give up the lives that they wanted, choosing instead to provide what their children need.
I've even heard of people who sacrificed in secret, giving up things that no one would ever know about, to fulfill the needs and desires of others.
Why? Because love is a powerful thing!

Now imagine doing any of these things to someone who is indifferent towards you. Could you honestly love someone who never gave you the time of day? Could you truly pour out your love on someone who may never even acknowledge you?

Now take it a step further. Imagine doing these things for someone who actively hates you. Imagine looking in the eyes of someone who is always mocking, ridiculing, and viciously attacking you...Could you still love them enough to give up what you want? Could you love someone who wants to hurt you, and serve them - expecting nothing in return?

That is a description of God's love toward us.
He loves us when we come to Him and submit to His Lordship.
He loves us when we choose to ignore Him and pretend like He's not there.
He loves us when we make fun of Him and slander Him - even when we accuse Him of being evil.
(We know this, because He loved the people who literally slandered Him to His face.) 

Romans 5:8 tells us "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Why would God do it? Why would He send Jesus into the world to suffer so terribly? Why would Jesus be willing to bear the shame and guilt of everything you did wrong? Why would He want you to be free from your sin so badly? Because He loves you, my friend!

The Only Thing That Makes Us Worth Anything

We've all heard the talk about what people think they "deserve". They'll say things like:

"I'm worth it..."

"I deserve it..."

"I'm entitled to it..."

(These aren't just the cries of spoiled children either. Even red-blooded, hard-working adults are guilty of saying these things....they'll just attach it to the work they've done.)

Culture today has been obsessed with teaching about "self-esteem" and "loving yourself". In classrooms and TV screens across the country, our kids are learning that they should "believe in themselves", because they're perfect just the way they are. Today, no one seems to be interested in growing up, becoming better people, or turning the focus on others.

Even in the church, teachers and preachers often talk about the "value of a person." From the pulpit, we've heard that we were so valuable, so precious, that God had to save us out of the devil's grasp. The Bible is sometimes presented as if two sides (the devil and God) were fighting over some precious jewel (us). Somehow, we've bought into the doctrine that - in spite of our sin - we were still intrinsically worthy of God's love. 

So what's the problem with teaching us to value ourselves? It's not true...it's all based on a lie!

My friend, you and I were not worthy of God's love...and we both know it!

Jesus didn't come to die for me because I was "valuable". My sin and my shame weren't a side issue that God overlooked...that sin and shame is who I was! My very nature was an offense to God's perfection. The Bible is clear about this - "No one is good...no not one."

God did not save us because we were worthy of it. We were far from deserving. We were far from priceless. The only thing that made us valuable is the fact that God loves us!

While We Were His Enemies...

This is what's so amazing about God's love...He loved us when we were not lovable! He loved us when we were sinners. In fact, it was His love that saved us from that sin.

1 John 4:10 "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

That word "propitiation" shows us exactly what we deserved....it means "to appease or pacify anger through a gift." We deserved God's anger...not His love. But He still loved us! He loved us so much that Jesus came to bear the weight of that righteous anger. 

Why did God make this incredible sacrifice? What would cause Him to trade His own Son for a race of worthless criminals, who actively oppose Him through their sin? It's because He loves them anyway!

"For God so loved us, that He gave His one and only Son. Now, whoever chooses to believe in that Son, will not die in their sin...but instead will have eternal life with Him."

What an amazing love!