I’ve been surprised–
About what I actually believe about God.
I believe:
–That I need to clean up my act before I come to God.
–That it’s important to add to Jesus’ work on the cross by doing good things.
–That if I feel guilty enough God will forgive me.
–That I should question my salvation when I make mistakes (when I sin).
Do I actually believe those things?
No.
I don’t.
But I often live like I do.
Not only do I have eternity amnesia.
I also have identity amnesia.
I forget that nothing can separate me from the love the Christ.
It seems too simple (and not fair) that I am a sinner, totally forgiven, based on nothing I have done to fix my mess.
But this is Truth–
“If we’re not completely convinced that His love is ours right now–
fully and unalterably ours– we’ll always hide in the shadows,
focusing on our performance, fearing His wrath…
His love doesn’t fluctuate from day-to-day.
It was settled the moment He set it upon you before the foundation of the world.”
(Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me)
Ephesians 2:8–
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:5–
Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—
Stop.
If you read over that quickly.
No–
Don’t pass by this.
Stop.
And read it again.
By grace you have been saved…
It’s scary-beautiful to be in that much debt.
To realize that nothing I can do will add more to my status.
The truth that many of us have lost and desperately need to find is that Christianity isn’t essentially a program to help moral people be better. No, it’s a relationship based on the premise that we aren’t good now and will never be good enough in this life. We need someone to be good in our place, to suffer what we deserve to suffer, and to live the righteous life we should have lived. Our Redeemer has taken our sinful identity so that we might receive his righteous one! (Elyse Fitzpatrick– Because He Loves Me)
I am His adopted child.
Fully loved.
Fully realized.
Fully His.
Romans 8:38-39–
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rest in that today.
Trust that your love for Him will produce the desired results.
We often want the to-do-list.
We want to check-off-the-boxes–
To know that we are on track.
It’s scary to trust that our love for Him is enough…
To trust that His work on the cross covered it all.
Completely.
Finished.
That He will produce the desired outcome.
That He will complete the work He has started (Phil 1:6).
Abide.
That is our–
To do.
John 15:5
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.
Today…
Abide.
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