TO HELP
to (preposition): used as a function word to indicate purpose, intention
help (verb): improve, relieve, rescue, save
“God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help…” John 3:17
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” Yes, we know this one. God sent his Son to live as a human on earth with us. And then he sacrificed him on a cross to save us.
We almost take John 3:16 for granted when we mindlessly recite it.
But the truth of this well-known verse is not only significant, it is staggering. What God did by sending Jesus to us made all the difference in the world.
The thing that we get confused about sometimes, though, is why he did that.
Why did he send Jesus to be with us?
Why does he want to be involved in our lives?
What is it that he wants from us?
We might assume he sent him to judge and correct us.
We might picture him checking up on us and shaking his head in disappointment.
We might feel like we need to hide, to keep quiet, to be on our best behavior when we think of God coming close.
We might not be able to comprehend that his sole motivation was…is… love.
God sent his son Jesus to help us.
Even with the sticky situations we get ourselves into?
Even with the stress that we bring on ourselves?
Even with the things we can’t forgive ourselves for?
Even when we are doubting him, ignoring him, and acting like we don’t deserve him, he came to help us.
Especially then.
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave us his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” John 3:16
God doesn’t hold a grudge. He doesn’t treat us the way we might expect. He knows even better than we do the guilt and stress and addictions and distractions that threaten to destroy our hearts and our lives, and he came to rescue us.
Instead of pointing an accusing finger, God opens wide his arms in love. Instead of frowning at us in frustration, God’s eyes smile into ours with grace and delight. Instead of leaving us alone when we hide away from him, he finds us and he frees us and gives us what we need.
That’s the God who came to save us.
Invite Him in: Imagine Jesus coming to live with you today. God right beside you in the form of a real person who wants to be with you and take care of you. You don’t have to pretend that you have it all together or be on your best behavior. You can simply open your heart to him and ask him to help you with everything you are feeling, thinking, and facing today. He is here to help.