Motive Matters
Jan 4, 2026 • Pastor Joel Heald
Christmas reveals something revolutionary about God's character - unlike the unpredictable gods of ancient mythology, our God came to us motivated purely by love. John 1:11 tells us that Jesus came to His own people, but they did not receive Him. Yet God came anyway, knowing He would face rejection, because His love for us is greater than His fear of our rejection. This isn't about earning God's approval or avoiding His anger. God has given us a guarantee of His unchanging love through the Holy Spirit, who serves as a deposit of our inheritance. The invitation is simple: receive God's gift of love and relationship, not out of fear, but out of recognition of His goodness.