God Loves Sinners

by Heather Tietz

But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-7

God has a history of choosing sinners for His service: Moses, who murdered an Egyptian, Abraham, who doubted God’s provision, Jacob, who lied to his father, New Testament Saul, who imprisoned Jesus’ followers, most of the twelve sons of Israel, who were so jealous of their brother that they intended to kill him, and the list goes on. The Bible, Old and New, and history beyond, is overflowing with God’s grace on graceless people.

God loves sinners. Isn’t that a relief! He loves you. He loves me. He loves those that have never heard His name. He loves those too busy to say His name. He loves people, every one, the addict, the abuser, the liar, the slacker, the braggart, the selfish, the doubtful, the brash, the unforgiving, the unloving.

We all have a place in His list, don’t we? And we all have a place in His heart. God wants to save us, all of us, from a life without Him, from an eternity without Him.

Keep going back to Jesus for forgiveness. Keep pursuing what is right. When you fail, embrace God’s grace. God is kind. He forgives, over and over again.