“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)

 

At some point-in-time in our walk with the Lord we must come to understand that God’s love for us is unconditional.  If God’s love had conditions, certain sins would “knock” us out of favor with Him.  Jesus’ blood wouldn’t be available for certain behavior and sins. This simply is not the case. You see, we are not accepted by God because of what we have done or what we are going to do.  We are accepted because of what Jesus has done and continues to do for us.  Therefore, we are accepted unconditionally.

A certain boss approached his employee and said, “I’m planning a salary increase for you.”  The excited employee replied, “and when does it become effective?” The boss said, “Just as soon as you do!”

God loves me. He has accepted me. The same is true for all believers. There is nothing we can do for God to make Him love us more. There’s also nothing we can do for God to cause Him to love us less. God doesn’t change us so that He can eventually love us; He loves us in order to change us. It is His love that changes us. Surrender to that love. Bask in it. Rest in your relationship in Christ.  In Christ we are secure. In Christ we are accepted.   In Christ we are significant. In Christ we are sufficient. In Christ we are secure. You can say it another way. In Christ we are righteous. In Christ we are rich. In Christ we are received.

 

 

We are blessed with every spiritual blessing, so learn to rely on these resources. We are accepted in the Beloved, so learn to rest in that relationship.

These are truths we cannot live without.  When we are armed with these truths, we are truly set free.  You can’t behave right unless you believe right. Proverbs 23:7 reminds us as a person “thinks within himself, so he is .” If we continue to believe what the devil says about us, we will fail. In fact, we will probably not even try. If we choose to live based on what others say about us, we may or may not be any better off. But if we live based upon who God says we are, then we can hold our heads high. We are somebody because Somebody lives in us. In Christ we have all we will ever need. And in Christ we are totally secure. Nothing can ever take that away from us, unless we allow it.

Watchman Nee tells about a new convert who came in deep distress to see him. “No matter how much I pray, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think I’m losing my salvation.” Nee said, “Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes, he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog; my son is my heir. You are Jesus Christ’s heir because it is for you that He died.” We are Christ’s heirs, not through our perfection but by means of His grace.

How do you see yourself today?

 

Blessings,

Pastor