Deuteronomy 7:7-9

“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;”

In this passage, God reminds the children of Israel why He chose THEM to be His special people. It was simply because He loved them. He made covenants with their ancestors and His love remains steadfast for generations. 

Israel was a tiny, seemingly insignificant group of people who really didn’t have much to offer other nations, let alone God Almighty. They were not chosen to be loved by God because they were really good at certain trades or because they were extraordinarily beautiful people or because they had the biggest and most skilled army. In fact, this passage says they were the least of all people. 

What are the ways our God loves?

1. He keeps His promises. God forbids the breaking of oaths and He is not a man that He should lie. What He said He will do in your life, He WILL do! His promises are true! 
2. He sets us free from bondage. Just like the Israelites being delivered by the hand of God from generations of slavery, God wants us to be free! He provided the way of escape. We can walk in freedom simply because of the love of God! 
3. He redeems us! Jesus Christ is our redemption! The life we lived before knowing Him may have been full of sin, unbelief, bondage and sickness, but those things are now passed away and all things have become new! He loves us so much that when He looks at us now, all He sees is Jesus…perfect and brand new! We are redeemed by His love!

Remember, friends, we don’t have to do anything to earn God’s love. We don’t have to try to be perfect. We don’t have to be “religious.” There’s no checklist of qualifications, prerequisites or accomplishments that must be met before you are worthy to deserve His love. None of us are worthy of His love. But He loves anyway. On His own accord…without any kind of manipulation or emotional tricks. There’s no song and dance necessary to attract the attention and love of our Father. He simply loves us. That’s Who He is!

What can we give in return if He does not require all these things? Our love, our obedience and our trust in Him. Relationship. That’s what He wants from us. 

He loves us first so that we in turn can love Him back. Oh what a Savior! isn’t He wonderful?!?!