I Want You to Want Me

1 Timothy 2:3,4 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

When I first met my wife and fell in love, I wanted what was best for her, but I also longed to be loved back. This is the nature of love, not only to want the best for another person, but to desire reciprocation of that love.

In today’s passage, Paul described the heart of God who desires all people to be saved. Does God get what God wants? From my perspective, He does not. There are billions who live and die without ever knowing Him. What does this mean? How can God want a thing and not get it?

I do not wish to diminish God’s love by comparing it to my 18-year-old heart, but the answer lies in the nature of love. God loves me and longs for me to love Him back. He has gone to great lengths, sacrificing of himself, to draw me to Him, but He does not force me to pursue Him. He desires that I do that of my own will. God wants me and He wants me to want Him.

God has done the necessary work of paving the road to him, now, we must walk it. The road is narrow though, and few take it (Matt. 7:13,14). In His love, He provided salvation, pursuing us. Now He desires that we pursue him in return. This is His will but He has not forced it upon us.

God saved me from something, for something. I was saved from myself and separation from Him. I was saved for a profoundly real relationship with Him. This is the most important thing in my life and it is my right response to treat it that way.

My first responsibility every day, is to do whatever it takes to love and follow God. God wants me. I must want Him and I must live like it.