Most people have a hard time acknowledging this most foundational truth. To say that God loves people implies that God loves them, and for many, it doesn’t feel like this compassion exists.
Why is this so? Since the Garden, God’s great Enemy has whispered in our ears every time something bad happens. “God did that and that means He doesn’t love you.” In fact, Satan doesn’t need a cause to proclaim this great lie. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world with no tragedies. It just took Satan’s whispers to create a doubt about God’s goodness toward them. He convinced them that God was withholding the best from them and, therefore, could not be trusted and followed.
THE UNDENIABLE TRUTH
God shouts to us of His love in so many ways. Nineveh is a prime example in the book of Jonah. We often focus on Jonah’s lack of love which caused him to run from his assignment to the wicked city of Nineveh. But notice God’s love. He went to extraordinary lengths to get a prophet to them to preach an 8-word message.
God had prepared these people. All they needed was a message and a messenger. God was wanting to save them. It was not His desire that they perish, but that they would be delivered by His compassion and longsuffering grace.
God loves people. Jonah didn't, which the book that carries his name illustrates ... a continual shame to him for misrepresenting his Father. He pouted when they repented. He would rather let 120,000 people die in their sin. But God is not like this.
God loves people. And if He loves them so greatly, it means He also loves you. You should never doubt His affection. His continual advances to you to save you—even to the giving of His Son for your salvation—should forever contradict the Devil’s lies.
Father, thank You for loving me—even in my sin and rebellion. Forgive me for listening to the Enemy’s lies at times and doubting Your goodness. Forgive me for not trusting You enough to follow You explicitly. I am overwhelmed by Your love that is personally directed to me. Let my trust and following continually illustrate to a watching world that I totally believe in Your love.
