Question: Why would God love me when I have never done anything great but only make mistakes in my life?
Answer: You are right that God loves you even though you feel you don’t deserve it! God, our heavenly Father, loves us immensely, but it’s not because we’ve earned it through accomplishing noteworthy deeds. And, He won’t stop loving us when we make the wrong choices. This is the example He models for us so that we will strive to love others in the same way that He loves us.
“God loved the world so much, that He sent His one and only Son, so that whosoever believed in Him would not die and go to hell but would have everlasting life.” John 3:16
God sent His Son Jesus into the world to pay the ultimate price of death for your sins and for the sins of all people. Jesus explained that our Father in heaven knows everything about you and cares so much about you that He keeps close tabs on you at all times; He even knows how many hairs are on your head right now! (Matthew 10:31) We humans don’t love one another like He loves us, and that’s one of our major human flaws. So, it’s difficult for us to understand how anyone could love like that. The Bible shows, in each chapter, how God took care of people who didn’t always love Him or obey Him. The history of the Jews is an amazing and miraculous account to read, beginning in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. God selected the small group of people to prosper them and help them throughout all generations, and we can learn much about God by reading about their relationship. God directed Moses to write this to the people of Israel:
“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples. But because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out [of slavery in Egypt] with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh. Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:7-9
As you can see, God’s promises of love and care were to Israel and also to all of those in every generation who would follow Him and do their very best to obey Him. God intended for Jesus to live among us to show God’s favor, first to Jews, and then to people in the rest of the world (the Gentiles or non-Jews) who desired to know and follow Him in their lives. He gives His love freely to anyone who is willing to receive it, never because people have earned it by good behavior or generous actions. God’s scriptures reveal that this concept is called “grace”, or God’s favor that He gives as a free gift to anyone who is willing to receive it:
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much,that even though we were spiritually dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) … God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:1-5, 8-10
As you read the Bible, you come to know more of God and begin to comprehend His great love for you. As you talk to Him (the Bible calls this “prayer”), you develop a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. You sense His leading of your life in the choices you make and in the new, remarkable perceptions you experience.
You can begin to connect, right now, with the one who will always accept and love you.
Say (or pray) to Him something like this:
God, I am so sorry for the times I’ve ignored you and not cared about making good decisions. I confess that I have done and thought about many things that are wrong. I know you came into the world to save me by having Jesus to take the punishment for my sins on the cross. I believe that you raised Jesus from the dead just as the Bible explains to me. Thank you for this inconceivable love you have shown to me, and teach me to love people like you do. I really need you to help me to understand why I am here and what I am to do with my life. Please allow me to feel your real presence with me throughout every day. God, I now trust you with my life! Please lead me! Thank you, Amen.
