(This message series is inspired and excerpted from He Loves Me! by Wayne Jacobsen.)
A Lived in Love (Final section in the series)
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; [15] and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV)
Trying to Earn Points With Someone Who Is No Longer Keeping Score
“God is not disillusioned with you, because he had no illusions about you in the first place.” – Gerald Coates in unpublished comments
“Adam and Eve’s troubles began when they lost sight of how deeply God loved them, doesn’t it stand to reason that our whole lives will change when we come to know the depth of his love for us? That’s exactly what our Father wants the reality of the cross to produce in us.
In this final section, we will look at what it means to live every day in the confidence of his love for us. We’ll discover that when living in this reality everything about our life and our faith will take on different meaning and tap new motivations. Rather than providing an excuse for falling victim to sin, our security in his love will actually destroy the root of sin and teach us how to live as his free people in the earth.” (p. 136)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4] in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 ESV)
“My Father had never kept score because he wanted nothing more than to cultivate a relationship with me. He had done that, not by throwing my scorecard away, but by completely filling it out himself.
That’s what Paul meant when he said that Jesus died on the cross so that, “the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:4). For someone who had lived many years imagining God as the divine Scorekeeper, this moment was an epiphany. God’s not counting anymore, and that means I don’t have to either!” (p. 136)
What kinds of ways do you keep score to determine your status with God?
“Freedom to grow in him comes when you recognize that his love for you isn’t affected by your actions. Philip Yancey in his book, What’s So Amazing About Grace?, said it as clearly as we need to understand it: ‘Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more… and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less. God already loves us as much as an infinite God can possibly love.’
Our only choice is whether or not to live loved, trusting that his eye is on us and that he can work out in us everything that he desires. That is the challenge of life in God’s kingdom. He has done everything to demonstrate his irrefutable love; but he will not make us live there. We can still live less-loved, pursing our own agenda with our own resources and in the process not only destroying ourselves but hurting others as well. The choice is yours; and it can never be made once for a lifetime. This choice is made every day in every circumstance in which you find yourself. Do you trust that he loves you even in this, or will you fall back on your own wisdom and desires?” (p. 137)
When you feel as if you’re not doing enough for God, what do you usually focus on?
“There are two ways to hide from God’s love—rebellion and religion. Rebellion, illustrated in the prodigal son, defies God’s love and seeks to cover up guilt and shame through the indulgence of sensual desires. Religion, on the other hand, is far more subtle. It seeks its cover-up with good works and obligation. However, like the prodigal’s older brother, it still denies the Father’s place in our lives and leads us no closer to knowing him for who he really is.
Simply, religion is keeping score—striving for acceptance through our own performance whether it be in our good works or some ritualistic exercise. Those things squarely put the focus on us and what we can do to be accepted by God and all these are doomed to fail.” (p. 138)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5 ESV)
Have you tried to do something great for God? How did it turn out? Did He use it to touch some lives anyway? (Isn’t He amazing?)
“Why do so many enjoy striving for God’s acceptance, even after he went to such lengths to prove it was already ours? Perhaps people feel more secure if they can control the relationship. Perhaps they’re afraid that if they no longer have to earn his acceptance they’ll find themselves using grace as an excuse to pursue their selfish desires. Perhaps they don’t want a relationship with him at all, simply his help in time of need and that coveted “Get-Out-Of-Hell-Free Card.” (p. 138)
“Releasing us from the terrible burden of trying to earn his friendship God put the focus right where he wanted it—on the relationship he always wanted to have with each of us. He wants to be a closer friend than any other we’ve ever had: sharing our joys, our pains, even our failures as he teaches us how to live in him.
…Some people have asked me if this kind of friendship risks trivializing God and reduces our awe of him. I have not found that to be so. Those who treat God as a buddy who thinks and acts just like they do, always make me wonder if it’s the Living God they’ve found or is it an illusion of their own mind? God is who he is. He is the Almighty, Holy God who created the heavens and the earth. He is more magnificent than we can ever conceive. I can only approach him with confidence because that’s the way he wanted it, but that doesn’t diminish in my mind for one moment who he is.” (p. 139)
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [18] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)
“If you’ve never known the joy of simply living in God’s acceptance instead of trying to earn it, your most exciting days in Christ are ahead of you. People who learn to live out of a genuine love relationship with the God of the universe will live in more power, more joy and more righteousness than anyone motivated by fear of his judgment.” (p. 141)
What would you do tomorrow if you absolutely knew God loved you and just wanted to share your life?
For Your Personal Journey
“Spend a few moments thinking what you are still counting in your relationship with God. Is it failures? Minutes in prayer? Number of converts? If you find yourself doing those things, ask God to help you receive what he has already given you. Stop doing anything that seeks to earn his love and learn to do what you do simply because you already have his love. This is quite a change of mind that only God’s Spirit can produce.” (p. 141)
Leave a Reply