God loves us—everything He does is out of love—and it has nothing to do with who we are
1 Timothy 2:1-8 (KJV)
2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
In today’s reading, Paul is talking about worship and prayer. But he uses them to present an even greater truth: God’s loving desire for us. It can be easy to become complacent in our faith. We may even start to think that we are somehow deserving of God’s love. But God’s love for us—His coming as a man to die for our sins—is about who He is, not who we are.
God desires that all men be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). Salvation involves not only the Lord’s work of deliverance from eternal death but also His endowment of eternal life. When He looks at our hearts, He sees nothing that motivates Him to save us—we have no righteousness or goodness in us.
Instead, our Father chooses to save us because He loves us (Eph. 2:4). His children are trophies of His grace, to which He can point for the benefit of all the generations to come (Eph. 2:7). We human beings are unique in our ability to experience the grace of God.
In living out the Lord’s mercy on us, we also perform His work. Consequently, men and women may see the goodness of God and give glory to Him. That’s why we’re charged with being lights here on earth to reflect our Father (Matt. 5:14).
This week, as you prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, consider the love He has for you—a reality strong enough to compel Him to die in your place. Everything in the heart of God reaches out to pour love upon humanity—be open to receive it.
InTouch Ministries