Wednesday, July 14, 2021

"He Is Not Out To Get You"

"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." John 8:11

Many have a misconception about God. They see Him as some being who sits high upon a throne in heaven looking down upon them just waiting for them to mess up or make a mistake so that He can "get them". They think that He is always looking for opportunities to "let them have it". (How far that is from a true picture of God.)

When Jesus was on earth, He showed us what Father God was like, and what He was like in His dealings with mankind. When the woman was caught in the act of adultery, Jesus did not condemn her, He did not pick up a stone and throw it at her. Though under the Law He could have legally put her to death, instead He forgave her. When the woman came and anointed His feet with the oil in the alabaster box and wiped them with her tears, Jesus did not rebuke her, He did not turn her away, He did not belittle and ridicule her, He did not condemn her, instead He allowed her to do it. He also defended her before her accusers and affirmed her in their sight.

Let me ask you a question. Do either of those encounters with these sinful women sound like God was "out to get them"? If He just waits for the opportunity to let us have it, then there was His opportunity. He could have taken it then but He didn't. As little children one of the first verses we learned was John 3:16- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I think we should also learn John 3:17- "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." Again, I ask you, "Does this sound like God is out to "get us"?

If God was out to "get us", if He sits up in heaven and waits for us to make a mistake so that He can punish us or condemn us then why would He send His Son to earth to save us? Why would He provide a way for us to have forgiveness from our sins? Why would He go to such great lengths as to shed His blood and die upon the cross? If that is how God really feels toward us, why would He do anything for us, He had us where He "wanted" us if that were the case? (Because we were already "messed up" and making mistakes is all we could do.)

But that is not a true picture of who He is. Jesus corrected that by demonstrating the love, grace, patience and mercy of God to those He encountered while upon earth. I hope that you don't have this misconception of who He is. He is not out to "get you". He is not out to destroy you. He isn't looking for opportunities to "let you have it". Instead He is looking for opportunities to express and lavish His love on you. He proved that by sending His Son Jesus to earth to tell you and ultimately show you that He loves you.

Have a great day. God is not out to get you. He proved that through Jesus.

For further reading:
John 8:1-11
Luke 7:36-50
Romans 5:8

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