“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Psalm 8:3-4
Why does God love you? That question ought to unnerve you. We’d all like to say, “Because I am lovely.” “Perhaps not perfect,” we persist, “but in some way, lovable. There must be something in me worth loving, because Jesus saw something worth dying for.” Did He now?
“But Jesus…knew what was in each person” (John 2:24-25). “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7:21-22). “Because of these, the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:6). In our sinful rebellion, humanity is detestable, repugnant, and infuriating to God. Christ did not bear your loveliness on His cross; He bore your sin, evil, and wickedness. You and I are not lovely, but, amazingly, that doesn’t mean we aren’t loved. And because God’s love doesn’t depend on us, we can never lose it. “God’s love…cannot be increased by anything we do and that cannot be lessened by anything in us” (John Owen, 1657).
“But Jesus…knew what was in each person” (John 2:24-25). “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7:21-22). “Because of these, the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:6). In our sinful rebellion, humanity is detestable, repugnant, and infuriating to God. Christ did not bear your loveliness on His cross; He bore your sin, evil, and wickedness. You and I are not lovely, but, amazingly, that doesn’t mean we aren’t loved. And because God’s love doesn’t depend on us, we can never lose it. “God’s love…cannot be increased by anything we do and that cannot be lessened by anything in us” (John Owen, 1657).
Scripture Focus
Deuteronomy 4:35-37; 7:6-8; Psalm 8
Insight
“God doesn’t love you just the way you are, He loves you just the way Jesus is.” (David Powlison, 2001)
Bible In A Year
- Deuteronomy 17-18
- Psalm 88
- Acts 11-12
