16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
Who has loved us
The love of both the Son and the Father is the motivation behind our consolation and hope. Jesus loved us enough to go to the cross for us (Galatians 2:20). God the Father loved us to the extent that He sent His Son to the cross (John 3:16). God loves us whether we are carnal or spiritual. He loves us when we’re discouraged.
Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that God loved them. They may not feel loved due to their persecution but it is true nevertheless. It is a matter of belief in God’s Word, not an issue of feeling. We know God loves us because God says it in His Word. We know it, no matter how defeated, how discouraged or how handicapped we might be. Trust in God’s Word in the face of difficulty shows spiritual maturity.
Principle:
We know God loves us because the Bible says so.
Application:
How do we know that God loves us? Because He said it in His Word. Trusting in what God says in His Word is what separates men from boys spiritually. People who operate strictly by their feelings will end up dreadfully bewildered because they will never know for sure if God loves them. They measure everything by their emotions. The only sure way we can know whether God loves us is by faith.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Neither can we can know that God loves us by our intelligence or reason. If we look at the world around us, there is very little evidence that God is a God of love. There is pain, confusion and mystery everywhere. The only way we can know God loves us is that He says it in His Word. God knows what you are bearing right now and He cares (1 Peter 5:7).
