For His Sake

I often hear it said that God loves us so He saved us. It’s true. We read in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (ESV). He loves us. He saves us. However, we need to be careful that we do not take for granted His great love that we ignore His holiness and honor. 

In Isaiah 43:25, we read: “I am the one, I sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more” (CSB). God is holy and He deserves honor and worship. He is the One. His name means something. Again and again, we read of Him acting on behalf of His namesake. Ezekiel 20:44 says: “And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD” (ESV).

Why is it important to think about His sake? It is an important reminder that the Gospel isn’t all about you. There has been a great movement over the years to take the love and grace and mercy of God, and make it all about us. People have asked —what can the Gospel do for us? However, we should ask — why have we made it all about you and me? 

This is troublesome. When you start to look at the Gospel without the holiness and honor, you can dangerously fall into thinking you deserve the grace. You can lessen the magnitude of the great sacrifice through the blood of Christ Jesus by focusing on yourself. You can start to live like God loves you because you are the greatest thing since sliced bread, and forget the need for repentance and the importance for obedience. If you think you are the star of the Gospel, you have no need to draw near to God in prayer, no need to bathe in His sanctifying Word. Can you fully worship the Lord if you are not able to honor His holy name? Can you fully honor Him if you think you deserve His grace because He loves you?

Today, pray earnestly to Him. Seek His face in this situation. Ask Him to open your eyes. Have you accepted the Gospel in its fulness? Do you see your need for repentance? Are you still in awe of His goodness and His holiness? Yes my friend, He loves you. He loves you so very much. For His sake, I pray you do not lose sight of His holiness, His awe and wonder.