Because He loves me

 
Today’s reading has this line: “Christ has made our hearts capable of this supreme overwhelming affection and has offered himself as the object of it. It is infinitely precious to Him. So much does He value it, that He has made it the first and chiefest of all His commandments that we should love Him with all our might and with all our strength.”

It explains that being loved is important to Him yet I keep hearing these words: “God loves me and wants me to respond by loving Him and doing His will because that is the the very best thing for me, not to please Him or make Him happy — trusting Him is for my sake.

John Piper even ties this to God’s responses to our cries. If He does not answer our prayers as we want, it is because He has wise and holy purposes. I need to trust Him because He knows what He is doing and all of what He is doing is for my good, even when it may not feel good at the time. This is the assurance that His love is worthy and I can love Him, not to make Him smile but to bring me to the very best I can be…

I know by loving God, all things work together for my good as one who is called  according to his purpose. He foreknew me and also predestined me to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that Jesus might be the firstborn among many brothers. He predestined me, then called me, justified me, even glorified me. What then shall I say to these things? If God is for me, who can be against me? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for me, how will he not also with him graciously give me all things? Who shall bring any charge against me? It is God who justifies. Who can condemn me? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for me. Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Even as He says that for His sake, I could be “killed all the day long; even regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things I am more than a conqueror through him who loved me. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord. (Romans 8:28–39, personalized)

It is for love that everything happens to me with purpose — to conform me to His image. There is no greater goal, no higher ambition. By loving Jesus, I can see His worth, His perfections, and the value of being like Him. Obedience is part of cooperating with His transforming power, but it is still His power not mine, and is motivated by His love for me.

At times I feel overwhelmed. To be loved by God? The Creator and sovereign ruler of the universe? Not because I am a pawn on His chessboard or needs me to love Him, but because He loves me? Mind-blowing!

PRAY: Jesus, I feel anything but lovable. There is nothing in me worthy of Your focus on transforming my life. I don’t even understand how You ‘use all things’ to that end, even my failures and resistance. Yet in my heart, I know it is true. Your love wants my love, and it is not to make You feel good; it is for my good. How precious to know this and to worship You.