I teach the Bible to men, and I love it! Each week I spend some time trying to see my men the way God sees them. To help with that, I’ve assembled some verses that remind me of what God sees and how he thinks of us.
Even when our intentions are good, without these (and similar) verses we would come to all kinds of conflicting opinions about how God thinks about people. But they would be just that—opinions. So today, let’s soak in, and enjoy, the biblical perspective. Here are ten ways to better understand how God thinks about you:
- When Jesus took his band of brothers on tour, massive crowds gathered in every town and village to hear him teach and be healed. How did he see them? Matthew 9:36 doesn’t say, “When he saw the crowds he was saddened by their sinfulness.” No doubt he was, but that’s not what the verse says. Instead, the first disposition of Jesus was compassion. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
- After telling the parable of the shepherd who left ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that wandered off, Jesus said, “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:14).
- When Jesus spoke to the rich young ruler who fell to his knees and asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus recited several of The Ten Commandments. The man said, “Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy.” The next verse, Mark 10:21, says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Love here in the Greek is agape
- Jesus said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” Luke 13:34).
- “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live’” (Ezekiel 33:11).
- “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
- “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
- “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).
- “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone” (Lamentations 3:32-33).
Reflection: How often do you feel harassed and helpless, like a sheep without a shepherd? How do these verses improve your understanding of how God thinks about you? Which verses speak most directly to you? Who do you know who would be cheered up by these verses?
Yours for changed lives…
Pat
