Will You Choose God? || 1 John 4:10 || Manna for the Mind #17

Welcome to Day 17 of my “Manna for the Mind” devotional series! This series takes a passage of scripture (typically 1-3 verses) and builds its understanding through its context and connecting scripture. Doing this helps us understand what the Bible truly teaches us. 

1 John 4:10

10          This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Nothing sinful can exist in God’s presence. How does it happen? Through his absolute goodness, he cannot excuse sin as if it never happened. God takes care of it. Righting the wrong. Forgiving the act. Allowing things to be good. God loves us, but his love doesn’t make him morally lax. Through his love, he helps remove us from our sinful ways and guides us on the path he designed.

We won’t have to bear the penalty for our sins through our belief in Christ. Jesus’ sacrifice did that for us already. We believe in the sacrificial act of love that forgives us and gives us an open relationship with God. We continue to repent, meaning we turn away from our sinful nature and return to God’s path. This is a daily act. For those who don’t believe, will you choose to repent? Believe, through faith, that Jesus loved so much that died on the cross for you so that you can have a right relationship with God.

Romans 5:8 talks more about the great love that God has for us.

Romans 5:8

8             But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

God sent Jesus to die for us. He didn’t do it because we deserved it. God did it because God loves us. He did it because he wanted us to spend eternity with him. God chose us to be a part of his family. God chose us to be his children. God wants us, even in those moments when we might not want him or remember him.

Whenever you’re not sure about God’s love for you, remember this verse.

Luke 12:7

Luke 12:7         And the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

God knew you the moment you were created. From the womb to the moments in reality, God knew every detail about you. God knows the details you make public and keep private. God knew you before you committed your life to him. Will you choose God?

Romans 5:10

10          For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of the Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

The love that caused Jesus to die is the same love that sent the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us daily. The power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that can save us and be ours daily. The followers of Jesus went from having Jesus among them to having Jesus in them. We never got to experience the human Jesus among us. We’ve only known of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. We’ve only learned how this power source allows us to do anything God calls us to do. Be assured that we started living in Christ; we have this reservoir of power and love to call upon daily to help overcome every challenge. We can pray and ask for God’s loving power and help. Will you choose God?

1 John 2:2 talks about the sacrifice made by Jesus.

1 John 2:2

2             He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins – and only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Jesus acts as our defense attorney and as our mediator before God. His death satisfied the wrath of God against sin and paid the ransom for the sins we commit. Christ satisfies God’s requirement and removes our sins altogether. In Jesus, we are forgiven and purified.

There’s a lot to take in here that I want to spend some time with. I mentioned the wrath of God. How could our loving God be so angry as well? Over the years of learning God’s anger, I’ve learned that It’s good to look at it from the perspective of a parent and child. As a parent, you love your kids unconditionally. (I know that’s not true for everyone, but I’m speaking in generalizations.) You want the best for your kids and would do almost anything within reason (and some things without reason) for them. If your kids go against the rules you have for them, you will be upset at what they did, frustrated because they did it, and possibly will give them consequences because they did wrong. Do you still love them? Of course. Do you still care for them? Absolutely. You can be upset about the wrongs (the sins) they commit and still love them regardless of what they did. (Obviously, this is more of a “perfection” situation, but the generalizations still apply.)

God looks at us the same way. He loves us unconditionally and without questions. God wants the best for us and will guide us toward the things God wants for us. If we go against what God wants and the rules he sets for us, it’s reasonable for God to be upset with us. There will be both physical and spiritual consequences for the wrongs we committed. Yet, because of the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, the spiritual consequences are already paid for. We still might have physical consequences depending on the situation. Still, God will walk alongside us to help ensure we right the wrongs we’ve done to others.

No matter what sin you committed, you are never beyond his forgiveness. We may feel like it, but our feelings don’t dictate the truth found in Christ. How can we receive that forgiveness?

Tell God you’re sorry. Tell him you are sorry about your sins and are ready to turn away from them. “God already knows what’s on my heart, so why do I have to verbally say it?” I’m glad you asked. This was something I wrestled with for a long time. What I’ve understood is that it’s about acknowledging it intentionally. It’s trying to say, “I’m sorry, God. I want to do better.” We can think it all we want, but thinking and doing it are two radically different states.

After you tell God you’re sorry and want to turn away, receive his forgiveness through Christ. Embrace what this means for you. Envelop yourself in the comfort of knowing you’re forgiven. It’s difficult, at least it has been for me. It’s both a feeling and a fact, but often our feelings come and go. You may not feel forgiven, especially if the sins are severe. We need to remember that our feelings don’t replace the truth. You may not feel forgiven, but you are forgiven. Committing to this is a daily act. You will still need to ask for forgiveness of your sins daily, hence why Jesus included it in the Lord’s Prayer. The more you recite it, the more you are to claim it, and the more you will be able to live into it.

After you receive the forgiveness, you should commit your life to Christ. This is a huge step to take in life. Yet, you’ve made a lot of giant steps in admitting your sins to God, acknowledging that you want to turn away from them, and embracing and committing to living a forgiven life. Committing your life to live and love like Christ lived and loved is the next logical step in the process. If you have questions, I encourage you to speak with your Pastor, Church Leader, Sunday School teacher, or a trusted person within the church to see if they’ll walk alongside you in your journey to becoming a part of God’s family.

At the end of it all, thank God for everything you needed. Share gratitude with God and allow your positive feelings to flow out of you. Whether it be through prayer, worship songs, or even silence. Allow those feelings to exist because God created them for a reason, and being in reverence to our almighty Father is one of them. Will you choose God?

Father God, we thank you for the love you have for us. We thank You for loving us so much that You were willing to sacrifice Your only son to pay the price for our sins so that we could have a right and healthy relationship with You. Please help us to choose you above everything. Help us embrace your love and forgiveness in our lives daily. It’s in your name, we pray. Amen.