Does God Choose to Love?

Does God Choose to Love?

The Question of God’s Choice

God created me. God created you. God created everyone in this world. None of us had any say in our creation. We didn’t submit applications to be born or design our own lives beforehand. Yet, here we are—unique, living, and breathing by God’s divine will. But here’s a question that I couldn’t ignore for years: Why does it seem like God chooses to love some people while rejecting others? Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you’ve looked at others who seem blessed and wondered, Why does God favor them and not me? Or perhaps you’ve faced hardship and thought, If God loves me, why is my life so difficult? These thoughts can easily lead to questioning whether God’s love is reserved for a select few. Is He a God of only some people? If so, how do we reconcile verses like Romans 3:29?

“Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too.” (NIV)

This verse makes it clear that God is the God of all. So, if that’s true, why does He choose some people for special roles and not others? Is God playing favorites?

Understanding God’s Selection

To answer this question, we need to shift our perspective. God’s selection is not about love alone; it’s about His divine purpose. God’s love is constant, and He loves each person equally. His choice, however, is part of His greater plan and involves fulfilling His divine purposes in the world.

Deuteronomy 7:6 speaks of God’s choice of Israel:

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.” (NIV)

Similarly, 1 Peter 2:9-10 declares that God’s selection extends beyond Israel to all believers:

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (NIV)

These verses are powerful reminders that God’s selections are purposeful. His choice of individuals or groups is not about rejecting others but about fulfilling His divine plan. God's love for each of us is equal, but His purposes for us may differ, and that’s okay.

A Common Misunderstanding

I used to think being “chosen” meant God loved those people more. But that’s a misunderstanding. God’s love is constant and unchanging for all His creation. His choice is not about love—it’s about purpose. Think about it this way: imagine a teacher choosing a student to lead a class project. The selection isn’t about the teacher loving that student more than others. The teacher sees that student as the right person for that particular task. In the same way, when God chooses someone, it’s about the role they will play in His grand design.

Romans 9:11-12 illustrates this point:

“But in order that the choice of one son might be completely the result of God’s own purpose, God said to her, ‘The elder will serve the younger.’ He said this before they were born, before they had done anything either good or bad.” (NIV)

God chose Jacob over Esau not because Jacob was better but because it aligned with His divine plan. God’s choices are about His purpose, not our merit.

God Chooses for What We Will Do

God’s selection is forward-looking. He doesn’t choose us for what we are doing now but for what we will accomplish in alignment with His purpose. Have you ever felt unqualified for something God seemed to be calling you to do? Maybe you thought, Why would God choose me? I’m not good enough. I remember a time when I was asked to lead a Bible study group. I felt completely inadequate. There were people in the group who knew the Bible better than I did. I wrestled with insecurity, wondering why God would choose me for that role. But through prayer, I realized something important: God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. God’s choices are never random. He sees the bigger picture, even when we don’t. When He calls us to a purpose, He equips us for it, even when we feel unworthy or unqualified.

Ephesians 1:11 confirms this truth:

“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” (NIV)

Love Is Constant, but Purpose Is Specific

Another crucial point is that God does not need to choose us to love us. His love is inherent and eternal. We don’t have to earn His love; it’s always present, constant, and unchanging. When God declares, “I love you,” it often signifies that He has a specific purpose to fulfill through you. His love and His purpose are distinct yet interconnected. God’s love doesn’t change based on what we do or don’t do. It’s constant. But His selection of us for certain roles or purposes is based on the unique way He wants to use our lives in His greater plan.

2 Timothy 1:9 beautifully captures this idea:

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.” (NIV)

God’s love is never in question. It is always present. But His selection is about fulfilling His purpose through us, to glorify Him and bring about His will. There was a time when I doubted God’s love because I didn’t feel “chosen.” I looked at others who seemed to have clearer callings and wondered if God had forgotten about me. But through prayer and studying His Word, I realized that I was focusing on the wrong thing. God’s love was never in doubt—it was always there. What I needed to understand was His purpose for my life. And that purpose, though different from others, was equally important.

If you’re reading this and struggling with similar doubts, I want to encourage you: God loves you deeply and unconditionally. His purpose for your life is unique and significant. He has chosen you for something specific, even if you don’t fully understand it right now.

Reflection Questions:

· Are you struggling with doubts about God’s love for you? How can you remind yourself that His love is constant and unconditional, regardless of your circumstances?

· In what areas of your life might God be calling you to step into a specific purpose or role? How can you trust that He is equipping you for it?

· How can you seek to align your life more fully with God’s greater plan, knowing that His selection is part of His divine purpose?

Conclusion: Seeking Purpose Over Selection

Understanding God’s choices requires a shift in focus—from questioning His love to seeking His purpose. Selection is not about exclusion from His love but about inclusion in His mission. So, when you see God choosing someone, ask yourself not “Why did God love them more?” but rather “What purpose is God fulfilling through them?” And then reflect on the purpose God has for your life, because His love is already with you.

Remember: God's love is constant, unchanging, and for all people. It is His divine purpose for your life that He is unfolding, and you are chosen to play a unique role in His eternal plan.

 CONCLUSION:

Imagine a man with 120 years of life experience standing before God, the Eternal One who has lived beyond time, fulfilled countless purposes, and witnessed all seasons of existence. Now imagine Esau himself being raised from the dead. What might he say? He would likely accuse God of being unfair, based solely on his limited experience. But we, having the benefit of hindsight and Scripture, would say God was fair because we understand His divine purpose during that time.

The problem is that we, as human beings, speak only from what we know and experience. Someone who has lived in slavery understands only the ownership of slaves. Someone who has lived under capitalism understands only privatization. And someone who has lived under socialism knows only nationalization. Each experience provides a limited perspective.To reconcile all these experiences and purposes requires someone who has experienced them all—and that One is God. God stands outside time, possessing infinite wisdom and eternal understanding. Yet we, finite beings, often try to bind God to our limited human understanding.God’s purposes may change with seasons, but His nature remains constant. He is eternally loving, just, and wise. This means that even when events seem contradictory or unfair, God’s internal qualities remain unchanged.

Consider Job’s profound wisdom in the face of tragedy:

“Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)

Job recognized that God’s love did not waver, even when his circumstances were filled with suffering.

  

The same God who delivered David, Daniel, and Samson from the jaws of lions also allowed Stephen to be stoned to death. From a human perspective, this may seem inconsistent. After all, aren’t lions more dangerous than stones? Yet God, in His infinite wisdom, chose to save some and not others.

We may never fully understand why. But one thing is certain: God’s decisions are never arbitrary. They are always purposeful, even when they are beyond our comprehension.

Understanding God Requires Knowing His Nature

If we try to judge God solely based on His actions, we will always be confused. His purposes change with seasons, but His nature remains unchanged. He is eternally good, loving, and just.

Apostle Paul wrestled with this truth when he said:

“Who shall strive against the will of God?” (Romans 9:19)

God’s will is perfect, even when it doesn’t make sense to us.  

The more we come to know God, the more we realize how little we truly know about Him. This is why King Solomon declared:

“Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

And why Apostle Paul admitted:

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” (1 Corinthians 2:4)

In the end, our faith must rest not on our limited understanding but on the unchanging nature of God. He is eternal, loving, and sovereign. Even when life doesn’t make sense, we can trust that His purposes are good.

As human beings, we will always be tempted to say, “This person should not be loved” or “God should not have allowed that.” But God, in His infinite wisdom, sees what we cannot see.

If we want to understand God, we must first know His nature. And that nature is love. After everything is said and done, He will remain a loving being.  

For whatever God says is always yes and amen.

Ipyana Amon Mwakosya