This afternoon I was discussing a passage of scripture with my wife, and how it may relate to our current living/ministry/employment situation. While listening to her read, I had a realization that something in my thought process about what God has planned for me (and anyone else who calls Him "Father") has been skewed.
There is a message I have heard preached, promoted and studied over the last few years that until recently I wasn't sure how I felt about (other than the fact that it hasn't ever sounded right). The basis of the message is this:
1. God loves you.
2. God wants to do great things in and through you.
3. You have to "do your part" and work hard for this to happen, or else you will fail God and will not achieve your "God [given] potential" or the "greatness" He has in store for you.
It is not a complicated solution. God does want to bless His children and use us for His good. We were created to worship Him, and we have been commissioned to spread the message of His love and salvation to the ends of the Earth.
Here's the first thing about why the above message is flawed; the entirety of our God-given potential must fit within the context of the Great Commission, and it must be an act of worship. The second is that God's definition of "greatness" does not match our (often American dream-flavored "you can do anything if you can imagine it") definition. The third is that God's love is unconditional, meaning there are no strings attached.
God has given us free will and He has given us grace, both of which play integral parts in our lives as believers. We are able to choose whether or not to believe He loves us, sent His son to die and be resurrected as a sacrifice for our sins and to reconcile us to Him, and whether we want to follow Him or live our own lives apart from His influence. In fact, we are free to deny His existence altogether. That is free will.
Grace is most commonly defined as "unmerited [undeserved, unearned] favor." This means that there is nothing we can do as God's children to either increase or decrease His love for us, or His desire to bless and provide for us. This means that no matter how much we serve, how much we go to church, how much we sing, dance, write, preach, share, sin, repent, etc. we cannot change God's love for us. He gives it unconditionally, and since He promises to forgive the sins of those He calls sons and daughters, those can't be held against us, either.
Now, don't hear me say grace is a "get out of jail free card" (see Romans 6:1-4), either.
So, here is the thing. Over the past few weeks, I have been beating myself up about not doing enough to please God. I secretly think to myself "I am a pretty big disappointment to God right now. I'm not reading enough, praying enough or serving enough, and I keep sinning. I have to be sure to do more of those good things tomorrow and less sinning. Then God will be happy with me again and He will start blessing me again."
That is not how it works. So for all of those who have struggled with living up to a standard no human can achieve under his or her own effort, remember this verse:
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
