"...God is love" (1 John 4:8).
At the breakfast table this morning, our son Christopher asked a profound question: "Why does God love us?"
I paused for several seconds as I considered my answer. I could not say, "Because we are so lovable." That would be a lie. I could not say, "Because we are good." That would be a lie. We are not good enough on our best days to deserve God's love. I knew that I needed to give an answer centered on God's grace--because that would be true--but I was having trouble articulating it. Then the words of 1 John 4:8 popped into my mind.
Finally, I answered, "Because it's God's nature and character to want to do good to others."
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5 comments:
Good answer. There are many ways to respond.
I have often thought that he loves us because he loves his glory more than us.
That's a good answer, too. Thanks, Mike!
But to say that would simply be accepting an absolute statement (that God is love etc.), which drives the curious mind that seeks for answers mad.
Anonymous,
Could you help me to understand your objection(s)? Are you objecting to absolutes? Are you objecting because I did not provide evidence to back up my absolute statement?
Here is a passage worth praying over: "For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." (John 16.27). And of course, "we love because God first loved us."
Mark
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