Say it Out Loud: God Loves Sinners – Week of June 1, 2026
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:14-17
Say it Out Loud: God Loves Sinners
“Why is the sky blue? How do planes fly? Why is the ocean salty?”
These are just a few questions that you may have heard a child ask, and they may have made your head spin a bit when thinking how you might offer up a response. Some adults respond to a child’s question with a simple, “I don’t know.” That answer never satisfies a curious child, of course. Similarly, that answer does not usually satisfy the adult brain either.
What if someone asked you this question: “Why did Jesus save mankind?”
I do hope that your answer would not be the same as the one you might have given to a child’s questions about the color of the sky or the saltiness of the ocean. Paul gives us the answer to this profound question in his letter to Timothy. Why did Jesus save mankind? Jesus saved mankind because he is gracious!
“Undeserved love.” That is a common definition for the word grace. As Paul writes to Timothy, Paul recalled how he himself was a persecutor of Christians, saying he was the “worst of sinners.” Paul did not deserve God’s love, but “the grace of our Lord was poured out on [Paul] abundantly” (v. 14).
Can’t we all place ourselves in the category of sinners? What sin has been plaguing you lately? Have you cut corners in your job, had an outburst at your children, or gossiped behind a friend’s back? We all have sins that plague our consciences. We have failed to live up to God’s standard of perfection. From a purely human perspective, we don’t know why God would save sinners like us.
But God knows. God knows that he does not desire the death and damnation of any sinner. God knows that he is slow to anger and that his patience covers every time you’ve been impatient with your coworkers or family. God knows that his mercy is unlike any mercy or love we’ve been shown on this earth. In his grace—his undeserved love—God sent his only Son Jesus to be what we could not be: perfect. Jesus lived the life we could not and died the death of a sinner so that we didn’t have to. Finally, he completed the resurrection that we never could. And all of this gives God honor and glory for ever and ever.
Now, we do the same. Martin Luther summarizes this truth so nicely in the Small Catechism, “All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.”
You never have to answer the question, “Why did Jesus save mankind?” with a frivolous, “I don’t know.” Jesus died to save us because of his love for us, because of his mercy, and because of his grace. Just as Paul knew the effects of God’s love, so do you. Now go and share that wonderful news with anyone who needs to hear it this week. God’s grace and love ever be with you as you do!
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, friend of sinners, we thank you for showing us undeserved love. We are plagued by our sins daily, but you have washed our sins away by the blood of your Son, Jesus. Strengthen us to live in that grace everyday as redeemed children of God. Amen.
Early Childhood Ministry Educator Devotions will return in August. To view archived devotions visit wels.net/ecme-devotions. Have a blessed summer!
