Our Individual Worth
God's love for the world is a personal and individual thing, not just a general or impersonal love.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the significance of individual worth in God's love, arguing against the misconception that God's love is impersonal and only for the collective. He points out that many people believe they are overlooked as individuals, a lie propagated by the devil. Tozer highlights that Jesus addressed people as unique individuals, understanding their specific burdens and needs, rather than treating them as mere statistics. He reassures that God's promise of salvation is personal, affirming that each believer is valued and loved by God.
Text
Our lost race has always been prone to discount and reject the wonderful fact of the individual factor in the love of God. Far, far too many men and women in this world are convinced that God's love for the world is just one big lump - and the individual is not involved. We have only to look around us with serious observation to confirm the fact that the devil has been successful in planting his lie that no one cares for the individual person. Even in nature around us, there appears to be very little individual concern. The burden of concern is always for the species. But Jesus did not preach to the multitudes as though they were a faceless crowd.
He preached to them as individuals, and with a knowledge of the burdens and the needs of each one.
Our Savior did not come into the world to deal with statistics! Each of us must come with full confidence that it is a personal word God has spoken to us in Christ, that "whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish."
Sermon Outline
- God's Love for the Individual
- Jesus' Personal Approach
- The Personal Word of God in Christ
- 'The Devil''s Lie: God''s Love is a Lump'
- The Burden of Concern in Nature
- Jesus Preached to Individuals, Not a Crowd
- Jesus Knew Each Person's Burdens and Needs
- Each Person Must Come with Confidence
- The Promise of Salvation
Key Quotes
“Our Savior did not come into the world to deal with statistics!” — A.W. Tozer
“Each of us must come with full confidence that it is a personal word God has spoken to us in Christ,” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must come to God with full confidence that His love is personal and individual.
- We must recognize the devil's lie that God's love is impersonal and general.
- We must believe that Jesus' approach is personal and individual, not just a general or impersonal message.