What
an intriguing question. Have you ever thought about
it? Maybe your mind drifts to how you think God thinks about
you. "God tolerates me". "God loves me but
He has to because He is God." "God is mostly disappointed
with me." "God is going to get me one
day." "God is disinterested in me." "God is
impossible to please." "How could God like
me? I mess up so much!" Etc.
Let's start with something more basic
first. Does God like me? Several years ago, a young lady
went through our Advanced Discipleship Training. The very last day
of the training, she joined us for our "graduation" lunch where we
celebrate all that God has done in each of the students. When she
came into the room, all of us were immediately stunned by the glow on her face
and her big smile. We asked her why she was so happy. She
said, "I've known for a long time that God loved me but today I realized for
the first time He likes me"!
You see, God does like all of us who are in
Christ. Why? It is because He accepts us. I was
speaking to a group of pastors and Christian counselors several years
ago. I was sharing this same truth about how God accepts us. When
I finished, I fielded questions from the audience. One astute man in
the audience asked me, "If God accepts us as Christians, how does He feel
about those who are not Christians?" I quickly replied,
"It is obvious from the Bible that God loves those who are not
Christians but He does not accept them." You see, God only
accepts those who are righteous. And the only righteous people in
the world are those in Christ! (Romans 5:19)
Think about it for a
moment, God not only loves you. He likes you. Let me make
sure you understand. You cannot make God like you less through
disobedience. You cannot make God like you more through
obedience. I have had some people say, "If that is true then I
can just go out and sin all I want. Right?" Their question
is intended to prove that this can't be correct that God loves us and likes us
regardless of our behavior. That's why it is called
"grace". The answer to their question is answered in that He
will love and like us even if we sin. BUT, who would want to
displease our God who feels that way about us! Spend some time
pondering over Romans 5:19 this week that speaks the truth that God not
only loves you, He likes you.
Live Free In Christ,
GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyrighted © 2012 Mark Maulding
