“Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations. [Ezekiel 36.22]
God has a reputation that He thinks about and protects as needed. This is important for everyone to remember. If we can see it, this thinking (by God) could give insight into the Advent of Jesus.
Not a one of us deserved to be redeemed, and yet God redeemed us anyway. Jesus told us that God's motivation to save the world was His love. Hold that thought...
Even though believers today promote genuine love as a commitment and not a feeling, we tend to lean more towards thinking of it as a feeling when we consider God's love for the world. But God's love for the world is not a feeling! Instead, God's love for the world is a powerful enduring commitment. God's creative character manifested in forming mankind in His image (this is important). But also, God's sustaining character manifested in preserving mankind as His creation.
Why did God do this? Well, Jesus described it as the "love" of God:
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]
If we consider "love" however as "commitment" (which it is), then think of John 3.16 like this: For this is how God committed to the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
This then, is consistent with Ezekiel 36.22:
“Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations. [Ezekiel 36.22]
The world God "loved" turned its back on Him, bringing shame to Him as its Creator. Therefore, His commitment to protect His Holy Name includes redeeming mankind because mankind was created in His image. So, even though mankind did not deserve it, God, in protecting His Name and reputation, provided salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. God's redemption of mankind is His protection of His own honor as God. Mankind simply does not deserve it.
Perhaps we would all benefit from deleting our romantic idea of God's love for us and replacing it with a very utility idea that God is preserving His Holy Name. Our lives are redeemed to serve one purpose: to protect God's honor - to bring glory to Him... (Jesus' prayer in John 17 speaks much about this "glory" and is worth a serious read.)
God has a reputation to protect. There is nothing in this life we can do to better assure us of being in God's will than joining in protecting His reputation. Jesus said it like this:
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]
It's more than a feeling.
Father, help me today to understand that Your love for me is, in fact, a commitment to Your own honor because I am created in Your image - Your are my Father. Forgive me for my pride in thinking I deserve Your love. May I remain mindful how insignificant my life is, in and of itself, but how inherently glorious it is when submitted wholly to You. Thank You for allowing me to serve You.
No comments:
Post a Comment