He Loves the Effort
God's love is unconditional and not based on our perfection, and He loves to help us in our struggles with sin.
Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes God's rich mercy and great love for us, highlighting how even in our sinful state, He has brought us to life through Christ. She reflects on the doubts and self-criticism we may face, reassuring that God's love is not based on our perfection but on His unconditional love for us as we strive to be better. Tileston draws parallels to a mother's love for her child, expressing that God loves us in the midst of our struggles with imperfections and sins.
Text
But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.
EPHESIANS 2:4,5
LORD, to Thy call of me I bow,
Obey like Abraham;
Thou lov'st me becaase Thou art Thou,
And I am what I am.
Doubt whispers, "thou art such a blot
He cannot love poor thee."
If what I am He loveth not, He loves what I shall be.
GEORGE MACDONALD
WE may hate ourselves when we come to realize failings we have not recognized before, and feel that there are probably others which we do not yet see as clearly as other people see them, but this kind of im-patience for our perfection is not felt by those who love us, I am sure. It is one's greatest comfort to be-lieve that it is not even felt by God. just as a mother would not love her child the better for its being turned into a model of perfection at once, but does love it the more dearly every time it tries to be good, so I do hope and believe our Great Father does not wait for us to be good and wise to love us, but loves us, and loves to help us in the very thick of our struggles with folly and sin.
JULIANA H. EWING
Sermon Outline
- God's Great Love
- Our Response to God's Love
- God's Love for Us
- Unconditional
- Not based on our perfection
- But on our willingness to try and be good
Key Quotes
“If what I am He loveth not, He loves what I shall be.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“It is one's greatest comfort to believe that it is not even felt by God.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Recognize your worth in God's eyes and respond to His love by obeying His call.
- Believe that God loves you unconditionally and is willing to help you in your struggles with sin.
- Don't wait for perfection to receive God's love, but instead, try to be good and seek His help in the midst of your struggles.