“For God so loved the world …
Have you ever really thought why God loves you?
In Jesus’ prayer to the Father recorded in John 17, He says “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:24-26
Think about how God loves His Son. Jesus is sinless – so God doesn’t love Him because He’s good. “God made him who had no sin to be sin…” (1 Cor 5:21). ”… but we have one (a high priest) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.” (Heb 4:15).
God loved Him before the creation of the world, so God didn’t love Him because of the good things He did. We think of being good or doing good works or giving good gifts to gain love. Jesus didn’t do any of those things and yet God loved Him before the creation of the world.
Why? God must love Him just for who He is – His Son!
That’s what we are. We’re His children. That’s the love that God has for us, His child! “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).
