In Spite Of

A friend of mine and I talked about a devotion at MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) 40 years ago! She still remembers that devotion. Johnny, our youth director, went around and asked some of the youth why they liked their friend, girlfriend, or boyfriend. He got answers like, "because they are cute,” "because they are fun,” "because they are nice,” etc. Afterward, he told them that the difference in that love and the love of Jesus is that Jesus doesn't love you because of, He loves you "in spite of!" As Pine Valley United Methodist Church’s Pastor Tim said, in spite of our sin, Jesus still offers grace. He reminded us of Cain having to pay consequences for his sin, but God still protected Cain. That was grace.

I was reminded of this during our sermon series, “God’s Great Big Dysfunctional Family Tree.” As Pastor Tim told us, the Old Testament is our Spiritual family tree. If you read it, I think you will agree; we come from a pretty dysfunctional family! The good news is that if God can use them, He can use us! He uses people in spite of our shortcomings, mess-ups, and inadequacies.

I know I have said and done many, many things I regret! While I cannot change my past, I can do better in the future. Psalm 103:10-12, "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." David wrote this psalm. Probably having to live with his own bad decisions. Through the entire psalm, he doesn't even give excuses. He regretted his behavior but trusted God had removed them "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

I am so thankful to know God will "forget" those things that we have asked Him to forgive. When I think about Him knowing not only everything I do but everything I think! Yikes! Hebrews 4:13, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." We cannot hide anything from God! And this should make all of us uncomfortable because we are all sinful. 1 John 1:8, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

The good news is that God knows everything about us, and He still loves us! Our failures do not surprise God; in fact, He expects them. If someone knew all of our thoughts, they might not like us anymore, but God does! He loves us IN SPITE OF! He loves us in spite of our sins, our thoughts - past and future. I know my past messes, shortcomings, and inadequacies, but I know God loves me in spite of them. Moses explained God’s love to the Israelites, and it comforts me. Deuteronomy 7:7-8, “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Our importance and abilities have nothing to do with God’s love for us.

I like the way Rick Warren put it, "God doesn’t love you because of who you are or what you’ve done, but because of who he is and what he has done." He loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” We do not deserve it, and we cannot pay for it. Sometimes I have to tell myself, “Instead of trying to understand, accept it and say, Thank You! When we can do that, His love will change us! When we know God loves us that much we cannot give up on ourselves.

“God doesn’t love us because we are beautiful; his love makes us attractive.”