" Why Did GOD Make Man ? "

 

1st.John 4:19  "We love HIM, because HE first loved us."

     "We love HIM, because HE first loved us." A Sunday school teacher asked his class, "Why did GOD make man ?" A bright little girl got up and said, "I know, sir. GOD made the rocks and those sorts of things, but they could not love HIM. Then GOD made the animals, but they could not love HIM. Then GOD made man because man could love HIM." What an astute little girl ! The Apostle John wrote that "we have known and believed the love that GOD hath to us. GOD is love; and he that dwelled in love dwelleth in GOD, and GOD in him" (1st.John 4:16 pictured at top of post). "For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON" (John 3:16a full verse pictured above). GOD loves man, the being whom HE created in HIS OWN image. So deep is HIS love that, even after man fell, GOD still loved him enough so that "when the fullness of the time was come, GOD sent forth HIS SON" (Galatians 4:4) to die for him. "Herein is love, not that we loved GOD, but that HE loved us, and sent HIS SON to be the propitiation for our sins" (1st.John 4:10 pictured below). GOD's love for man is absolutely without doubt. What falls into question is this: Do we love GOD in return ?

     The Scriptures urge man, in response to GOD's love, to come to HIM for redemption, and then they exhort those who are redeemed to "love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37). The LORD JESUS told HIS disciples, "If ye love ME, keep MY commandments" (John 14:15) -- not, if you obey ME, but if you love ME. Obedience should spring forth from a motivation of love for our REDEEMER. "And this is love, that we walk after HIS commandments" (2nd.John 6). The LORD loves you, dear Friend, and HE longs for your love in return. JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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