21. The Will of the Father
The Father is more committed to our salvation than we are. He is more passionate about having a relationship with us than we are about having a relationship with Him.
In yesterday’s reading, we highlighted the Father’s actions in providing our salvation. He has blessed us in Christ. Our salvation is His initiative. Not ours. And Jesus saved us because this was the purpose and heart of the Father. Before we leave this passage, let us examine in a little more detail the reasons that the Father had in saving us. Slowly read the verses below several times and consider the repeated phrase, ‘according to’.
Ephesians 1:5 (ESV) he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Ephesians 1:7 (ESV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Ephesians 1:9 (ESV) making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
Ephesians 1:11 (ESV) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
From these highlighted phrases, we see that the Father has blessed us and has provided salvation for us because He wanted to. Our salvation originated in His heart, and it is His will to save us. It is His purpose that we have a relationship with Him, and this plan is according to the riches of His grace.
One of the beautiful things about genuine, loving relationships is that we discover someone who loves us from their free choice. They are not coerced or acting out of obligation. They simply love us because they do. This reflects the heart that the Father has for us. He loves us because He does, and He wants to share His love with us.
How wonderful this truth is. The Father is more committed to our salvation than we are. He is more passionate about having a relationship with us than we are about having a relationship with Him. And through Jesus, He has done all that is necessary to bring us back into this relationship so we can experience the fullness of His love.
John also emphasises this truth in the following verse:
1 John 4:10 (NLT) This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
The closest I can come to understanding His love for me is to think of my love for my own children. I love them with every fibre of my being. My love for them is not conditional on their behaviour. It is not because they love me back. I love them simply because I do. This love is not an obligation. I cannot help this love. It is an emotion that rises from the deepest part of my being. It is who I am. And everything I do in my relationship with them is motivated by my love for them.
If we, as imperfect parents, can love our children as much as we do, how much more does our heavenly Father love us with a perfect and complete love? Just as our love for our children is a compelling emotion, so the Father’s love for us compels Him in all that He does.
When we see the Father’s motivation in saving us, it makes us understand how secure we are in His love. His love for us will never change. He loves us with all of His being. There is nothing we can do to earn His love, and there is nothing we can do that will cause Him to stop loving us.
Further reading: Lk 12:32; Eph 2:8; Phil 2:13
He loves you more than you can imagine and will never stop loving you.
Spend a moment allowing Him to speak into your heart about His love for you.
This is an extract from my free book Knowing God as Father, which is available for download at Knowing God as Father.