Day 10: DOES GOD CARE ABOUT ME? WHY?

There are billions of stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way. Scientists estimate that there are billions of galaxies, each also containing billions of stars. Here we are on this tiny speck of dirt called Earth. And on this dust ball, Earth, there are about 6 billion people. One of those billion people is you! In this vast universe, does God even know that Earth exists? Does God know that you exist? Does God care about you?
The answers to the above questions are a resounding “Yes!!!” Yes, God knows all about Earth. Yes, God knows about your existence. And yes, God cares deeply about you.
When I don’t believe that God cares for me, there is a deep feeling inside of me of being lost of being spiritual restless. I can ignore that feeling of being lost, but it will come out in other ways. Perhaps it will come out in the way I critically view myself. Perhaps it will come out in the way I harshly treat others. Perhaps it will come out in the way I evaluate life. Perhaps it will come out at difficult moments of life. But that feeling of being lost or spiritually restless is there and it can not be buried or denied for long. In the fifth century, a Christian named Augustine commented on that feeling this way, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee…”

As Augustine reminds us, only God’s loving care can remove the feeling of being lost or restless. The Bible describes God’s care for you in assuring ways. God says: "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” (Isaiah 49:16) This verse indicates that whenever God does something, He is aware of you and considers you!

In Matthew 10:30, Jesus says, "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Jesus is telling you that God knows the smallest details of your life.

The Bible encourages you, “Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). You can come to God with all your worries and give them to Him because He cares for you.
Even beyond all this, we know that God cares for you because He gave His only Son, Jesus, for you. I have two sons and two daughters. I would not be willing to sacrifice any of them for anyone. Yet, God sacrificed His only Son for you. Why? Here is what the Bible says:

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.

The highlighted words above clearly state that it was love for you that moved God to give His only Son for you. God did not have to sacrifice His Son for you, but willingly out of love for you gave His only Son for you!

In addition, as we look at Jesus, God in the flesh, we see, from what is recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, that He cares about each person that He encounters. No one cared about a poor blind beggar named Bartimaeus – but Jesus cared and opened his eyes. No one cared about a wealthy and greedy tax collector named Zaccheus – but Jesus cared, forgiving and renewing him into a faithful and generous man. No one cared about a huge crowd of hungry people – but Jesus cared and multiplied bread so that all could eat. No one cared about ten lepers whose lives were destroyed by this terrible disease – but Jesus cared and brought them healing. No one cared about a woman caught in adultery, about to be stoned to death – but Jesus cared and brought forgiveness and new life. No one cared about a follower of Jesus named Paul, locked away in prison for his faith, abandoned by all – but Jesus cared and Jesus stood by him, strengthening him. No one cared about a miserable thief crucified next to Jesus – but Jesus cared and gave him the beautiful promise of eternal life as he repented of his sin.

Over and over we see in the Bible that Jesus cares for each person, no matter what their status may be. And the biggest mark of His care was that He died for each person. And He rose for each person. And He offers each person, including you, the gift of forgiveness and eternal life. God truly does care for you!!!

Someone once said that if God had a wallet, your picture would be in it. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. No matter who you are, no matter what you have, no matter what you have done or not done, God lovingly cares about you!

Prayer: Dear God, can it be true that You care about me? I don’t have much to offer You. I am not rich, powerful or famous. I have not done great things with my life. Do You still care for me? Help me to see that in the gift of the life that You have given to me, and in the gift of Your Son’s life that You have given for me, that You really care for me. And help me to be more caring for others as Your Son cared for me. In Your Son’s name I pray. Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment