charlesfowler.com: God Loves Jerks

Charles Fowler Ministries

God Loves Jerks

"Jacob I loved." (Rom 9:13)

God loves jerks. That is an unusual thought and one that is difficultfor us to accept. But there are many biblical examples of this. One ofthe most profound is the bible character named Jacob. And in regards toJacob the term bible "character" can be taken quite literally. Jacobwas quite the character. The fact is, Jacob was a real jerk.

You can read the entire life of Jacob starting at Genesis 25:21 andgoing to Genesis 50:26. The Bible narrative holds nothing back, hislife is a tell all story of a completely self-centered, controlling,manipulative man who had little or no love for anybody but himself.Jacob was a complete jerk.

To make a long story short, he did not love his wife (actually twowives and he was a terrible husband to both), his children (he was aterrible father) and he swindled both his father and his brother. Beinga manipulator to the very end. As far as I can tell he did not have apositive relationship with anybody.

Yet, God in His infinite grace continued to love, overrule and care fora selfish, manipulative, insensitive jerk. Unbelievable, but it is inthe bible for a reason.

The lesson here is that God loves to specialize in difficult cases andoverlooking our faults he continues to bless and use us despite all ourfailures. This is a lesson in the grace of God, the unmerited favor andunconditional love of God. A lesson both our flesh and our mindstruggle with if we seriously take it to heart. Yes, a very difficultlesson for any of us. Especially when it comes to loving jerksourselves.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that thisall-surpassing power is from God and not from us . . . " (2 Corinthians4:7)

God was infinitely, at times unfairly, gracious to Jacob. "Jacob I haveloved." (Romans 9:13) You have to say that God loved Jacob completelyunconditionally.

Apparently Jacob was clueless as to his own deeply flawed character andyet God blessed him anyway. He never looked in the mirror. He saw noneed for forgiveness, yet God forgave him anyway. He did not seekdivine guidance, but God gave it to him anyway.

Jacob was a complete jerk who apparently felt no guilt for the way hetreated people. He was afraid of his brother but apparently neverreally felt sorry for his actions. Jacob was a jerk! Or have I saidthat already. A jerk that God loved.

The point we must wrestle with here is how much God can love unworthypeople. And if God pours out His love, His grace, His mercy and evenHis blessing on unworthy "jerks" . . . then we must learn to love themas well.

"That he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory." (Romans 9:23)

I am not promoting jerks or encouraging you to be a jerk. I am justtelling you to love them and accept them as God does, despite theirjerkiness.

You are either a jerk or you know someone who is. And if you happen tobe a "real" jerk, you probably don't know it. There is a little bit ofJacob in all of us. And yes, we all know some Jacobs, don't we? Thepoint here is simple. God is love and He chooses to love Jacobs. Wealso, must learn to love and accept others just as they are. God lovesjerks!http://twitter.com/charlesfowler