By Pastor Ryan Stockstrom

Harvest Fellowship Church

“Motivated,” according to the online Oxford languages dictionary means “to provide (someone) with a motive for doing something.” An example it offers is “he was primarily motivated by the desire for profit.”

Have you ever wondered about God’s motivation?  

As I think about Christmas coming soon, and the celebration of Immanuel, God with us, it makes me wonder what exactly was God’s motivation for sending Jesus. What about His motives, thoughts, and heart led Him to send His perfect Son into a broken, hurting, and dying world?  

We celebrate the coming of Jesus as a baby; but the reality is…He didn’t stay a baby or live a cozy life here on this earth.  He came…to die. He came to die for you. And God knew this—He understood what Jesus’ destiny would be before He sent Him.  

One question I think we can all ask is this:  What kind and depth of love and compassion and goodness would God have in order to send His only Son for a sinner like me? I can’t even fathom it. But the reality is: He did it.

May God bless you and fill you with His love as we enter this Christmas season, and may you also take time to ponder the motivation of God for you.