I am not talking about navel gazing here, but, every now and then, I find it important to ask myself, “How does God think and feel about me?” If you’ve ever thought or felt that you are so insignificant that God does not care about you or that He does not want to listen to your prayers, it is a most disheartening moment. At that moment, I believe the old evil foe is trying his hardest to discourage. Discouragement is one of his greatest tools.
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A Father’s Love
Romans 8:32 is a verse that I run to whenever I have been assailed by such thoughts or feelings. It is almost impossible not to be encouraged and challenged by these words: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (KJV). Here the Holy Spirit gives inspired assurance that our heavenly Father loves us unconditionally. There was nothing so precious to Him that He would not give it in order to provide for our salvation … even His only Son Jesus. When the Father gave His precious Son to live, to die, to rise again to procure our salvation, He forever demonstrated the boundless nature of His love for all humanity … for you, for me.
The apostle Paul concluded that, if God would not spare His own Son in order to provide for our salvation, how would He not willingly then give anything else at His disposal in order to care for us? He sacrificed so much to give us eternal life that we can rest secure in the knowledge that He also wants to give us abundant life … or, as Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (NIV).
Approach God’s Throne
In light of what God did for us at the cross, the writer of Hebrews also challenges us to consider how we can and should now approach God’s throne of grace: should it not be with great confidence? (Hebrews 4:16). Should we not approach God with an expectancy that, having already been given the greatest gift – His Son, Jesus – we will find an abundance of mercy and grace to help us in our time of need? We are reminded that God’s response to our prayers is not based upon our worthiness, but upon His love and grace and the completed work of redemption. Our confidence in prayer comes not from who we are, but from Who He is. Nothing we could ask of Him could ever compare with the price that was paid for us at the cross. But please ask! Please come to God’s throne in prayer!
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How wonderful to know that God loves us so much! We can live with confidence and anticipation knowing that the almighty, all-loving God is willing, not only to give us eternal life, but also to help us experience it fully even now!
Living in expectancy with you,
Pastor David Maier
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