God Wants Us! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 1:6-7,

"There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a
witness to testify concerning that light [Jesus Christ, the Son of
God], so that through him all might believe."

John the Baptist was prophesied to come on the scene just before Jesus
Christ did, seven centuries prior to his arrival. We read in Isaiah
40:3-5, "A voice of one calling: 'In the wilderness prepare the way
for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every
valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough
ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of
the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For
the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'"

John prepared the way for the Lord by calling on people to repent of
their sins. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.",
Matthew 3:2. We find that he was faithful to the Lord for what he was
called to do, "People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and
the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were
baptized by him in the Jordan River." Matthew 3:5-6.

Something catches my eye in John 1:7, "He came as a witness to testify
concerning that light, so that through him all might believe." Not
that all would or will believe, but the intention is that all have the
opportunity to believe.

I realize that places me at odds with many, but a theme throughout the
Scriptures is that it is God's will that all mankind will turn to him
and be forgiven their sins. We find it in passages such as 1 Timothy
2:2, "This [praying for people] is good, and pleases God our Savior,
who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the
truth." Not some, but "all people." Also 2 Peter 3:9, "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." Not some, but "everyone." It is God's desire we
embrace him - all of us.

Although it is the Lord's will to save all of humanity, God has
determined that only those who choose to place their faith and trust
in him will be forgiven their sins and receive eternal life in heaven.
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he
gave the right to become children of God..." John 1:12.

Paul tells us, "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus
Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and
Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and
all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came
by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,
through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith." Romans
3:22-25. Also we read, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is
Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved." Romans 10:9.

God wants you, God wants me. God wants us all! He has left it up to
us: if we want him enough, we will place our faith and trust in him.
Others, sadly, cling to their sin.

God wants us!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send
me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are
receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply
and let me know.