The Gospel isn't the bad news of what is wrong with us, it is the good news of what is right with us because of Jesus!
It isn't the bad news of a scary judge standing against us but the good
news of a loving Father standing with us against the enemy and his lies
and ruin..
It isn't the bad news that we must somehow placate God's anger and get Him to accept us, it is the good news that God is not angry but instead gentle and happy with us and has already accepted us just as He accepts His Son..
It isn't the bad news of what we must do to get on God's good side, it is the good news that God has always been on our side..
It isn't the bad news that we are far from God and must somehow work
our way up to Him, it is the good news that Jesus has picked us up and
carried us to heaven and put us in our Papa's lap..
It isn't the bad
news that we are lacking and messed up, it is the good news that we are
already complete and perfectly whole in Jesus..
The Gospel really
is good news...there is NO bad news in the good news! What a wonderful
God and what a wonderful gospel of pure grace!
Jesus is our Vindication
"But
in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will
silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed
by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the
LORD, have spoken!"
Is. 54:17
At the cross, Jesus disarmed the enemy by nailing the law and and its decrees of punishment to the cross. Now when the enemy tries to accuse us of being bad, guilty sinners deserving condemnation, he hasn't anything to stand on because the law has been taken away at the cross, and there is no more record of our wrongdoing and therefore no justification to condemn or punish us! Thus the enemy is silenced every time! These wonderful benefits of vindication come from God, for our righteousness is from HIM. We have been made the righteousness of Christ, we have been made, declared and proven to be not only guilt-free but actually righteous with the righteousness of Christ Himself..
Vindication means to clear of guilt, accusation, blame, suspicion or doubt by evidence and proof...to uphold, maintain and insist on someone's honor and rights...to prove the worth of! Christ went to the cross and got rid of our sins and the law that was against us...His resurrection is proof that He succeeded in clearing us of sin and guilt and that He made us innocent and righteous (just/justified)! "He was raised because of our justification!" He vindicated us!
Jesus vindicated you - your vindication is from Him! He cleared you of all guilt, accusation, blame and suspicion. He upholds and maintains your cause and your righteous standing. He insists on your honor and rights to eternal life and fellowship with the Father! He proved your worth at the cross! You stand vindicated, proved to be righteous and innocent, cleared of all accusation, with every right to be in God's presence forever, holy and blameless before Him, worthy and affirmed, victorious over the enemy and his lies forevermore!!
Is. 54:17
At the cross, Jesus disarmed the enemy by nailing the law and and its decrees of punishment to the cross. Now when the enemy tries to accuse us of being bad, guilty sinners deserving condemnation, he hasn't anything to stand on because the law has been taken away at the cross, and there is no more record of our wrongdoing and therefore no justification to condemn or punish us! Thus the enemy is silenced every time! These wonderful benefits of vindication come from God, for our righteousness is from HIM. We have been made the righteousness of Christ, we have been made, declared and proven to be not only guilt-free but actually righteous with the righteousness of Christ Himself..
Vindication means to clear of guilt, accusation, blame, suspicion or doubt by evidence and proof...to uphold, maintain and insist on someone's honor and rights...to prove the worth of! Christ went to the cross and got rid of our sins and the law that was against us...His resurrection is proof that He succeeded in clearing us of sin and guilt and that He made us innocent and righteous (just/justified)! "He was raised because of our justification!" He vindicated us!
Jesus vindicated you - your vindication is from Him! He cleared you of all guilt, accusation, blame and suspicion. He upholds and maintains your cause and your righteous standing. He insists on your honor and rights to eternal life and fellowship with the Father! He proved your worth at the cross! You stand vindicated, proved to be righteous and innocent, cleared of all accusation, with every right to be in God's presence forever, holy and blameless before Him, worthy and affirmed, victorious over the enemy and his lies forevermore!!
God is a Safe Place
My help and glory are in God
—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
...God is a safe place to be.
from Ps. 62:7-8 Message Bible
He is not going to wound our heart. He is not going to be harsh with us. He is not going to berate us for our mistakes. He is not ever even thinking about our mistakes! He is not going to mistreat us. He is not going to reject us in any way. He is not going to be ashamed of us, withdraw His favor from us, or turn away from us in disappointment. He is not going to ever, ever withhold His presence, His blessing or His love from us!
He is the Safe Place where we can open up and be ourselves. He is going to comfort us. He is always going to be understand us. He is always going to hug us to His heart. He is always going to have a refreshing, uplifting, and healing word. He is always going to make us feel better, not worse! He is going to treat us with dignity and honor. He is going to cherish and celebrate us. He is going to love us for who we are. He is always going to approve of us and be proud of us. He is always going to be there for us, supporting us.
The Mirror Bible translation puts it like this: "God is a fortress where everyone feels protected rather than exposed!"
—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
...God is a safe place to be.
from Ps. 62:7-8 Message Bible
He is not going to wound our heart. He is not going to be harsh with us. He is not going to berate us for our mistakes. He is not ever even thinking about our mistakes! He is not going to mistreat us. He is not going to reject us in any way. He is not going to be ashamed of us, withdraw His favor from us, or turn away from us in disappointment. He is not going to ever, ever withhold His presence, His blessing or His love from us!
He is the Safe Place where we can open up and be ourselves. He is going to comfort us. He is always going to be understand us. He is always going to hug us to His heart. He is always going to have a refreshing, uplifting, and healing word. He is always going to make us feel better, not worse! He is going to treat us with dignity and honor. He is going to cherish and celebrate us. He is going to love us for who we are. He is always going to approve of us and be proud of us. He is always going to be there for us, supporting us.
The Mirror Bible translation puts it like this: "God is a fortress where everyone feels protected rather than exposed!"
Our Identity In Christ
I loved this list of our identity in Christ...it is so wonderful to realize who we are!
Seeing Myself as God Does...
God is re-forming my image of myself!
For as long as I can remember, my image of myself, the picture I have of myself in my mind, has been someone who is worthless, ugly, defective, unacceptable, unlovable, bad, and shameful. Terrible and dark image!
Yet God is washing over me in LOVE and showing me the real, true self He made me to be and that I AM in Christ.
He had this real and true me, the new creation, in His mind and heart before the world's foundation, saw me and loved me and chose me way back then as His beloved, wanted child! He chose me before He planned creation, chose me to be His blameless, beautiful, dearly loved little child!
That is the new self image He is putting into my mind, that is the real me, that is the true self - true for me and true for us all - let's all see ourselves and embrace ourselves, AS HE DOES, as His innocent little ones, showered with His love and affection at all times! Let's sing and dance and truly be carefree, because we are His beautiful and precious children, under His constant and tender care!
[In His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.
For
He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted
(revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with
the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—
[So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Eph. 1:4-6 AMP
Under the Waterfall of Grace!
We are always under His waterfall of grace and love, being drenched by His presence, His goodness, His tender affection!
All His waves of love and mercy pour over us at all times, deep within our spirit!
Deep called to deep at the noise of your waterfalls [of tender affection and love!];
all your massive waves [of goodness, grace and kindness!] surged over me.
By day the Lord commands his faithful love;
by night his song [of affirmation, comfort and gentle care!] is with me .... Ps. 42:7-8a
Why Did God Create Us?
We don't have to do anything, perform anything, be anything, understand anything - just enjoy the unconditional love God has for you!
Right now, as we are, whether we ever 'change' or 'get better' or not, we are already delightful to Him right now, valuable to Him, complete and perfect and beautiful in His eyes..we are loved! We are simply loved with no reference to our performance or anything we do. We are simply loved for who we are, and who we are is a beautiful, wonderful work of art, crafted by the Master Artist Himself, who makes ONLY masterpieces! We are held, cherished, caressed, delighted in, celebrated - He even sings over us with joy, sings a beautiful love song just for us!
This is what we were made for - just to be loved on by our Daddy forever...
Right now, in this moment, God loves you with unending, unconditional, unfathomable LOVE...you are loved - always have been, always will be..
This Love will hold you forever and never, ever let you go! You are safely held in the arms of Love for all eternity!
We're GRACED: Loved For Free, Loved Without Condition...SAFE in His Love!
You are loved for FREE, right now..
You do not have to do anything..
You do not have to attempt anything..
You do not have to change anything..
Nothing is asked of you..
Nothing is required of you..
Nothing is expected of you..
There is no pressure on you..
There is no law on you..
There is no stress on you..
You are loved - all you are, as you are, for who you are..
Without having to try anything, change anything, do anything..
You are loved with no stipulations, conditions, or expectations..
You are unconditionally loved by God, right now...and forever!
And because you are loved without condition, there is no condition that could happen that would ever cause Him to withdraw His love from you!
That means you just can't lose this love, this Father, this Friend!
We cannot get away from His love..
We cannot get away from His grace..
We cannot get away from His presence..
He is more committed to this relationship than we ever are!
He is not going to leave us, forget us, drop us or forsake us..
You are joined with God, the One who is ever Faithful and True..
You are joined to a Love that never fails..
You are joined with a Grace that will not end, will not lose you..
Even if you fail Him, He will never fail you!
He has promised, "I will neither leave you nor let you go!" (Hos. 2:20 MSG)
"You CANNOT get away from a Love that WILL NOT let you go!" (Robert F. Capon)
Even if we blow it today..
Even if we forget the truth we learned yesterday..
Even if guilt and self-condemnation plague us..
Even if we feel far from God..
Even if we seem to ignore Him all day..
Even if we don't have one spiritual thought..
Even if we get stuck in a legalistic 'perform or else' mindset..
Even if we feel like a washed out zero..
NOTHING has changed in our relationship with God!
He is still right there, still loving us, still looking at us with absolute delight, still whispering sweet loving words in our ear, still carrying us through, still making all things work out for our good! He hasn't dropped us, dumped us, or left us; He hasn't become disillusioned, disappointed or disgusted with us.
We are still His beloved children, His very good children, in whom He is well-pleased!
We can totally fail in every way and continue to be favored, loved, accepted, blessed and delighted in by God...that is unconditional love...
THAT is GRACE!
You do not have to do anything..
You do not have to attempt anything..
You do not have to change anything..
Nothing is asked of you..
Nothing is required of you..
Nothing is expected of you..
There is no pressure on you..
There is no law on you..
There is no stress on you..
You are loved - all you are, as you are, for who you are..
Without having to try anything, change anything, do anything..
You are loved with no stipulations, conditions, or expectations..
You are unconditionally loved by God, right now...and forever!
And because you are loved without condition, there is no condition that could happen that would ever cause Him to withdraw His love from you!
That means you just can't lose this love, this Father, this Friend!
We cannot get away from His love..
We cannot get away from His grace..
We cannot get away from His presence..
He is more committed to this relationship than we ever are!
He is not going to leave us, forget us, drop us or forsake us..
You are joined with God, the One who is ever Faithful and True..
You are joined to a Love that never fails..
You are joined with a Grace that will not end, will not lose you..
Even if you fail Him, He will never fail you!
He has promised, "I will neither leave you nor let you go!" (Hos. 2:20 MSG)
"You CANNOT get away from a Love that WILL NOT let you go!" (Robert F. Capon)
Even if we blow it today..
Even if we forget the truth we learned yesterday..
Even if guilt and self-condemnation plague us..
Even if we feel far from God..
Even if we seem to ignore Him all day..
Even if we don't have one spiritual thought..
Even if we get stuck in a legalistic 'perform or else' mindset..
Even if we feel like a washed out zero..
NOTHING has changed in our relationship with God!
He is still right there, still loving us, still looking at us with absolute delight, still whispering sweet loving words in our ear, still carrying us through, still making all things work out for our good! He hasn't dropped us, dumped us, or left us; He hasn't become disillusioned, disappointed or disgusted with us.
We are still His beloved children, His very good children, in whom He is well-pleased!
We can totally fail in every way and continue to be favored, loved, accepted, blessed and delighted in by God...that is unconditional love...
THAT is GRACE!
You Are A "Child of the One True King" (Matthew West)
All the names that the enemy or the world or even our own thoughts have tried to pin on us are nothing but lies, and only the name God gives us is our true name and identity! Every other identity is an illusion, no matter how much our actions may seem to support that identity, no matter how many others believe it about us..it doesn't matter, that doesn't make it who we really are, that doesn't change God's opinoin about us! And only His opinion matters anyway, for He tells us the truth about ourselves - what He says holds infinite weight and stands true no matter what! And He says we are His children!
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1
Child of the One True King
Matthew West
Hello, my name is regret
I'm pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I'm the whisper inside
That won't let you forget
Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I'll drag you right back down again
‘Til you've lost all belief
These are the voices, these are the lies
And I have believed them, for the very last time
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I've been saved, I've been changed,
And I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it's true
Just take a look at my life
What love the Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King
At Peace...
"We have peace with God through Jesus." (Rom. 5:1)
I read that the definition of peace is: to be set at one again...
We are at one with God, one heart with Him...
He is at rest in us and we are at rest in Him...
All is well in our world together...thank You, Lord!
He is at peace with you, so you can be at peace with yourself..
You can accept yourself and like yourself, because He really likes you..
He enjoys your presence and enjoys having you around...
He thinks you are fun to spend time with..
You can really talk with Him anytime without fear, embarrassment or shame..
You can tell Him anything without fear of rejection or judgment..
It really is safe to be vulnerable in His presence...
He really does understand you and know you and accept you as you are...
He truly celebrates you and delights in you for who you are!
He is the place where we can open up and truly be ourselves without fear of rejection, rebuke, or disappointment!
He is a safe place, a refuge for us, our shelter..
I like what Francois du Toit says about His love - that His love is a fortress where everyone feels protected, not exposed!
He isn't going to put us down, compare us to others, grade our performance, get angry with us, use or abuse us, manipulate us or hurt us!
He will hold our hearts so tenderly...
We are so safe and secure with Him!
What a wonderful fellowship we have, being in the bosom of the Father, just as Jesus is, having the intimate and peaceful love relationship with the Father that is just as Jesus has!
Union! Fellowship and joy and love! Transparency and being known without any sense of shame, only complete and perfect and unconditional acceptance!
We are wrapped in love and can't get out of the glory bundle of GRACE that God has swaddled us in!! He is holding us so safely and securely and tenderly in His everlasting arms!
Thank You, Jesus, that Your Love will never let us go!!
Nothing Is Holding Me Back
Bryan and Katie Torwalt
Verse 1
Thank You for the cross that You have carried
Thank You for Your blood that was shed
You took the weight of sin upon Your shoulders
And Sacrificed Your life so I could live
Chorus
Now nothing is holding me back from You
Redeemer of my soul
Now nothing can hold me back from You
Your Love will never let me go
Verse 2
Thank You for Your death and resurrection
Thank You for the power of Your blood
I am overwhelmed by Your affection
The Kindness and the Greatness of Your Love
The Kindness and the Greatness of Your Love
Verse 3
Thank You that we’re living in Your Kingdom
Jesus You’re the King upon the throne
Thank You for the way You always love me
Now I get to love You in return
Now I get to love You in return
Bridge
Jesus, You make all things new
On "Surrendering" to God...
In
the past I have had a confused idea about 'surrendering to God' - as if
by surrendering to Him, He would send some terrible test or painful
experience to me to 'teach me a lesson' or that He would immediately
demand that I do some difficult ministry or give up all my possessions
and even dreams. But now God is showing me that is not what happens
upon surrendering to Him! When we open ourselves
up to His presence and influence, there is only life, light and
healing! There is only joy and peace pushing away all the dark clouds!
There is not sudden pain and turmoil but instead the relief from pain
and turmoil! Surrender is not a burden but is a relief from all
burdens...it is simply letting God love on us! That is all He has ever
wanted to do...
When we surrender to God, we are simply letting Him love on us! We are letting Unconditional Love wash over us! He told Israel that so many times He just wanted to gather them in His arms like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wing, and shelter and protect and hold them. THIS is the will of God, THIS is His plan for you - to do you GOOD and never, ever to harm you! The thief comes to kill and destroy but Jesus came and gave us abundant LIFE!
So when we 'surrender' to God or simply open up to His presence working in us (He's there already, we simply become aware and stop our striving and let Him do it all), we are letting Healing wash the hurts away..we are letting Understanding soothe and embrace us...we are letting Acceptance banish all feelings of shame...we are letting Kindness wash away the bitterness and hurt...we are letting Light push away the darkness..we are letting Love drive out the fear..we are letting Grace fill us with joy and peace and His very presence..
Surrendering to God is surrendering to healing, joy, peace, freedom, acceptance, security, goodness and LOVE! It's getting a Love bath, a Holy Spirit joy feast, a better-than-you-could-imagine shower of gracegifts! Wow!
When we surrender to God, we are simply letting Him love on us! We are letting Unconditional Love wash over us! He told Israel that so many times He just wanted to gather them in His arms like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wing, and shelter and protect and hold them. THIS is the will of God, THIS is His plan for you - to do you GOOD and never, ever to harm you! The thief comes to kill and destroy but Jesus came and gave us abundant LIFE!
So when we 'surrender' to God or simply open up to His presence working in us (He's there already, we simply become aware and stop our striving and let Him do it all), we are letting Healing wash the hurts away..we are letting Understanding soothe and embrace us...we are letting Acceptance banish all feelings of shame...we are letting Kindness wash away the bitterness and hurt...we are letting Light push away the darkness..we are letting Love drive out the fear..we are letting Grace fill us with joy and peace and His very presence..
Surrendering to God is surrendering to healing, joy, peace, freedom, acceptance, security, goodness and LOVE! It's getting a Love bath, a Holy Spirit joy feast, a better-than-you-could-imagine shower of gracegifts! Wow!
Not on the 'Knowledge of Good and Evil' Tree but on the 'Life' Tree!
Isn't it wonderful that God has located us IN CHRIST, who is Life! Christ is the Tree of Life! And God has put me in Him, chosen me in Him from before the foundation of the world. That tells me that I am forever in Life, not in Law or Performance (which is what the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is all about - our efforts to do good and avoid bad, to be good enough, thinking of right and wrong and evaluating or judging based on works). I am off that performance tree for good, I am never defined by my performance; instead, I am on the life tree (Jesus, who is Grace - free acceptance and favor and love with no regard to my efforts or performance) and on it for good, forever defined by Christ who is my Life!
So I don't have to think 'right vs. wrong', obsess about my sins, worry over how to overcome sin or failure in my life, try to do good, or struggle to be good enough or work to 'get' blessed. I can forget all that and just enjoy Jesus, who is Life to me! I can enjoy His love, His friendship, His presence, His kindness, His favor, His approval, His blessing, His companionship, His faithfulness, His acceptance that is all mine for free! I can celebrate His work for me that has freed me from the trap and curse of performance mindset for good! I can celebrate who I am right now - beloved, full, complete, free, victorious, perfect, and home. I can rejoice in such completion rather than feeling incomplete, not yet good enough, inferior, needing to do more, etc. for I'm already there, already complete and already accepted and already there in His arms! There is no scale and no measure that I have to measure up to, and anyway, I'm already complete and in fullness in Christ! I'm in the fullness and total satisfaction of being a little child in His arms, innocent, pure and perfect, living in carefree delight and wide-eyed wonder at the love of my Daddy!
He frees us from the 'right' vs. 'wrong' legalistic thinking into the wonderful 'beloved child in His presence' thinking! It amazes me..God didn't choose the tree of knowledge of good and evil - Adam (humanity) did. He never intended for us to function in a right vs. wrong, good behavior vs. bad behavior mindset. He has always seen us through the eyes of grace, which isn't even on the performance scale at all; it is a totally 'other' place, a grace place where there is NO scale or measure - we are ALL seen as His little beloved children, apart from any works or performance, even apart from how 'good' or 'bad' our believing or thinking is.. He isn't obsessing over my behavior (law) but obsessing over my loveliness as His darling child (grace)!
So I don't have to think 'right vs. wrong', obsess about my sins, worry over how to overcome sin or failure in my life, try to do good, or struggle to be good enough or work to 'get' blessed. I can forget all that and just enjoy Jesus, who is Life to me! I can enjoy His love, His friendship, His presence, His kindness, His favor, His approval, His blessing, His companionship, His faithfulness, His acceptance that is all mine for free! I can celebrate His work for me that has freed me from the trap and curse of performance mindset for good! I can celebrate who I am right now - beloved, full, complete, free, victorious, perfect, and home. I can rejoice in such completion rather than feeling incomplete, not yet good enough, inferior, needing to do more, etc. for I'm already there, already complete and already accepted and already there in His arms! There is no scale and no measure that I have to measure up to, and anyway, I'm already complete and in fullness in Christ! I'm in the fullness and total satisfaction of being a little child in His arms, innocent, pure and perfect, living in carefree delight and wide-eyed wonder at the love of my Daddy!
He frees us from the 'right' vs. 'wrong' legalistic thinking into the wonderful 'beloved child in His presence' thinking! It amazes me..God didn't choose the tree of knowledge of good and evil - Adam (humanity) did. He never intended for us to function in a right vs. wrong, good behavior vs. bad behavior mindset. He has always seen us through the eyes of grace, which isn't even on the performance scale at all; it is a totally 'other' place, a grace place where there is NO scale or measure - we are ALL seen as His little beloved children, apart from any works or performance, even apart from how 'good' or 'bad' our believing or thinking is.. He isn't obsessing over my behavior (law) but obsessing over my loveliness as His darling child (grace)!
Grace says, "You Can't Fail Your Way Out of My Arms!"
Do you sometimes feel like a failure? Like a shameful person because you aren't happy and strong all the time? Like you should be 'doing better' or 'progressing more' in your Christian walk? Like you ought to be overcoming more, having more victory, doing more for the Kingdom? Like you are a bad Christian for having failures, struggles, problems, doubts and inconsistencies in your Christian walk? I have felt these feelings a lot and still struggle with them!
I have often had the idea that once I learned about grace, everything would just be perfect in my outward Christian life - I would finally have it all together, sins would fall away, struggles would cease, my faith would be perfect, I'd be on fire for the kingdom all the time, I'd be living drunk in the glory of God's presence 24/7, I'd always be happy and victorious and strong! Yet that isn't exactly what happened, for I am still in this earthly body, still human and still subject to failing and listening to the enemy's lies, etc. I think we all still struggle, even people who believe in grace.
The problem with my thinking was that it was still focused on 'the product' of what I thought I was supposed to be as a Christian. It is such a relief to find out God has no 'product focus' or agenda with me. His goal isn't to produce some perfect product (and if we are not that, we are thus failures- no!). His focus is simply this: on loving us! That is it! That's His agenda for us - to shower us with grace and love for all eternity!
[When we were mired in a stagnant life of sin,] immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Eph 2:4-7, The Message
God loves us where we are, as we are, for who we are!!
God loves us where we are. Even if we get distracted and succumb to sin, even if we don't pray or seek Him, even if we forget grace and start thinking we must earn our way with Him, even if we are sometimes judgmental or self-righteous, even if we yell at the kids, get caught in addiction, listen to the devil's lies, lose our focus, lose our ministry, withdraw into ourselves in our pain...Even in the biggest ditch we could dig for ourselves or the deepest hole we could fall into, He is there, He loves us as is, and nothing has changed in our relationship with God - nothing! For this relationship isn't based on how 'well we do' - it is based on how well Jesus did, and He did a work in us that is perfect! A work that took us all the way to the Throne Room of heaven and put us on Daddy's lap with Him! That is what the above verse states, wow! So let's remember that God loves us where we are, and let's remember where we truly are - not in the ditch of sin and poor choices and lies and despair - no! - but in the Palace in Heaven on our Daddy's lap!! Being hugged and loved on forever!
God loves us as we are. We can be bundles of insecurity, confusion, pain, turmoil, doubt, frustration, self-centeredness, envy, self-loathing, and irritability. And even when we act awful, think awful thoughts, feel awful feelings, even when we do the worst thing we could imagine doing, God is there, God loves us, God takes us as we are, accepts us as we are, and makes NO demand for change! Wow! That is powerful to me - I have found Someone who is committed to me, committed to love me and support me and be on my side and even celebrate me, no matter what I do! Nothing I do, say, think or even believe would ever drive Him away. He has committed Himself to this relationship for eternity by placing His Spirit in me to 'abide forever' (that means He isn't going anywhere, no matter how badly I screw up!), and that gives me perfect security that this relationship is forever, and there is no way I can mess it up. God loves me as I am. He takes me as I am, and all of us. He already saw all the stupid things we would do and say and believe, and Jesus already took them away at the cross and made us new. In fact, to say that God loves us as we are REALLY means He sees us for who we really are, even when we don't! He sees the real you - the one He created in Christ Jesus before the world began! - and the real you is awesome! The real you is beautiful, perfect, innocent and pure, strong, good, loving and gently, full of God, kind, sweet, righteous, other-centered, hopeful and faithful, complete, holy and whole, precious and dear! So not only does He loves us when we blow it and mess up, but He also reminds us that is not the 'real us' at all, and that the real us is perfect, just like Jesus, for Jesus is the center and true nature of the real us!
God loves us for who we are! He knows who we are, even if we forget! And He gently reminds us of the truth. He brings us to look at Christ, and suddenly it's like looking in a mirror - we realize that we are in Christ, for God put us there before the world's creation, and since we are in Christ, 'as He is, so are we!' We are in the image and likeness of God, just as Christ is. In fact, Christ is the image of God dwelling in us and actually being our nature. The very fabric of our being, of who we are, is Christ..it is like we were actually formed of God-material, created in Christ! He is the most real fact about us, as Brennan Manning says. So whatever HE is, WE are! We are just as lovely, perfect, good and true as Jesus is. Just as holy, loving, complete and free as Jesus is. And whatever HE has, WE have! We are just as accepted, beloved, cherished and close to the Father as Jesus is. Just as blessed, strong, anointed and secure in the Father as Jesus is! God loves us for who we are! He sees the beautiful new creation He made us in Christ! But He isn't just loving Christ in us, or tolerating us because we have Jesus in the center of our being as our nature and essence - He loves us for US! He loves YOU, He love ME, He thinks each of us is wonderful and amazing..yes, you have Jesus as your nature, yet that is just who YOU are, that is part of who YOU are, wow! It is like a father seeing one of his traits in His child - He doesn't say, oh, I just love you for that trait you have, or even, that's not your trait, it's really mine, it's really me..no! He loves the child for who the child is..He loves to see how the child inherited his traits, yet he sees that those are the CHILD:S very traits and part of his makeup! You bear the family likeness of love and goodness, and that's who you really are! You are loved and celebrated for who you are, for who you are is beautiful!
So when you fail, is God having to put that out of His mind and just think about how He made you good? Actually, He already put all the bad things away and out of His mind for good at the cross. He has never been confused about who you are. He has always seen the good person He made underneath the confusion and struggle and pain. He has always loved His children and simply seen them as His children, seen them through His love for them and not seen them through their performance. No matter how terrible our acts or thoughts may be at any time, we are always His pride and joy. Just like a good parent on earth, our Heavenly Dad loves us no matter what we do or seem to become, no matter what road we wander down, no matter where we seem to end up in this life. As Brennan Manning says, "He has one relentless stance toward us: He loves us." You are covered in love. Bathed in love. Wrapped in love. Held in love. You are held by an unconditional love that has nothing to do with how you perform, whether you improve, or how you measure up. You are loved by a love that you cannot lose, drive away or cause to reject you. You cant fail your way out of His arms! You can't get away from this Love that will not let you go, that loves you where you are, as you are, for who you are! So go ahead and be yourself - the beloved child of God that you are, for who you are is HIS BELOVED, no matter what!
I have often had the idea that once I learned about grace, everything would just be perfect in my outward Christian life - I would finally have it all together, sins would fall away, struggles would cease, my faith would be perfect, I'd be on fire for the kingdom all the time, I'd be living drunk in the glory of God's presence 24/7, I'd always be happy and victorious and strong! Yet that isn't exactly what happened, for I am still in this earthly body, still human and still subject to failing and listening to the enemy's lies, etc. I think we all still struggle, even people who believe in grace.
The problem with my thinking was that it was still focused on 'the product' of what I thought I was supposed to be as a Christian. It is such a relief to find out God has no 'product focus' or agenda with me. His goal isn't to produce some perfect product (and if we are not that, we are thus failures- no!). His focus is simply this: on loving us! That is it! That's His agenda for us - to shower us with grace and love for all eternity!
[When we were mired in a stagnant life of sin,] immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Eph 2:4-7, The Message
God loves us where we are, as we are, for who we are!!
God loves us where we are. Even if we get distracted and succumb to sin, even if we don't pray or seek Him, even if we forget grace and start thinking we must earn our way with Him, even if we are sometimes judgmental or self-righteous, even if we yell at the kids, get caught in addiction, listen to the devil's lies, lose our focus, lose our ministry, withdraw into ourselves in our pain...Even in the biggest ditch we could dig for ourselves or the deepest hole we could fall into, He is there, He loves us as is, and nothing has changed in our relationship with God - nothing! For this relationship isn't based on how 'well we do' - it is based on how well Jesus did, and He did a work in us that is perfect! A work that took us all the way to the Throne Room of heaven and put us on Daddy's lap with Him! That is what the above verse states, wow! So let's remember that God loves us where we are, and let's remember where we truly are - not in the ditch of sin and poor choices and lies and despair - no! - but in the Palace in Heaven on our Daddy's lap!! Being hugged and loved on forever!
God loves us as we are. We can be bundles of insecurity, confusion, pain, turmoil, doubt, frustration, self-centeredness, envy, self-loathing, and irritability. And even when we act awful, think awful thoughts, feel awful feelings, even when we do the worst thing we could imagine doing, God is there, God loves us, God takes us as we are, accepts us as we are, and makes NO demand for change! Wow! That is powerful to me - I have found Someone who is committed to me, committed to love me and support me and be on my side and even celebrate me, no matter what I do! Nothing I do, say, think or even believe would ever drive Him away. He has committed Himself to this relationship for eternity by placing His Spirit in me to 'abide forever' (that means He isn't going anywhere, no matter how badly I screw up!), and that gives me perfect security that this relationship is forever, and there is no way I can mess it up. God loves me as I am. He takes me as I am, and all of us. He already saw all the stupid things we would do and say and believe, and Jesus already took them away at the cross and made us new. In fact, to say that God loves us as we are REALLY means He sees us for who we really are, even when we don't! He sees the real you - the one He created in Christ Jesus before the world began! - and the real you is awesome! The real you is beautiful, perfect, innocent and pure, strong, good, loving and gently, full of God, kind, sweet, righteous, other-centered, hopeful and faithful, complete, holy and whole, precious and dear! So not only does He loves us when we blow it and mess up, but He also reminds us that is not the 'real us' at all, and that the real us is perfect, just like Jesus, for Jesus is the center and true nature of the real us!
God loves us for who we are! He knows who we are, even if we forget! And He gently reminds us of the truth. He brings us to look at Christ, and suddenly it's like looking in a mirror - we realize that we are in Christ, for God put us there before the world's creation, and since we are in Christ, 'as He is, so are we!' We are in the image and likeness of God, just as Christ is. In fact, Christ is the image of God dwelling in us and actually being our nature. The very fabric of our being, of who we are, is Christ..it is like we were actually formed of God-material, created in Christ! He is the most real fact about us, as Brennan Manning says. So whatever HE is, WE are! We are just as lovely, perfect, good and true as Jesus is. Just as holy, loving, complete and free as Jesus is. And whatever HE has, WE have! We are just as accepted, beloved, cherished and close to the Father as Jesus is. Just as blessed, strong, anointed and secure in the Father as Jesus is! God loves us for who we are! He sees the beautiful new creation He made us in Christ! But He isn't just loving Christ in us, or tolerating us because we have Jesus in the center of our being as our nature and essence - He loves us for US! He loves YOU, He love ME, He thinks each of us is wonderful and amazing..yes, you have Jesus as your nature, yet that is just who YOU are, that is part of who YOU are, wow! It is like a father seeing one of his traits in His child - He doesn't say, oh, I just love you for that trait you have, or even, that's not your trait, it's really mine, it's really me..no! He loves the child for who the child is..He loves to see how the child inherited his traits, yet he sees that those are the CHILD:S very traits and part of his makeup! You bear the family likeness of love and goodness, and that's who you really are! You are loved and celebrated for who you are, for who you are is beautiful!
So when you fail, is God having to put that out of His mind and just think about how He made you good? Actually, He already put all the bad things away and out of His mind for good at the cross. He has never been confused about who you are. He has always seen the good person He made underneath the confusion and struggle and pain. He has always loved His children and simply seen them as His children, seen them through His love for them and not seen them through their performance. No matter how terrible our acts or thoughts may be at any time, we are always His pride and joy. Just like a good parent on earth, our Heavenly Dad loves us no matter what we do or seem to become, no matter what road we wander down, no matter where we seem to end up in this life. As Brennan Manning says, "He has one relentless stance toward us: He loves us." You are covered in love. Bathed in love. Wrapped in love. Held in love. You are held by an unconditional love that has nothing to do with how you perform, whether you improve, or how you measure up. You are loved by a love that you cannot lose, drive away or cause to reject you. You cant fail your way out of His arms! You can't get away from this Love that will not let you go, that loves you where you are, as you are, for who you are! So go ahead and be yourself - the beloved child of God that you are, for who you are is HIS BELOVED, no matter what!
Conclusion - 30 Days of Grace
Wow, it is amazing to see that we have come to the end of our 30 Day study of God's grace. I have loved learning about His grace and just seeing all that Christ has done for me already. Grace is so wonderful, for it shows the unconditional love and acceptance of God, which moved Him to finish the work of redeeming us as new creations by Christ's complete work. How wonderful grace is! It encapsulates God's loving heart toward us, loving us freely and without expectation of anything from us, and it also signifies all the wonderful things He has done for us and given to us in Christ, totally for free, without us having to do anything to get or keep these gifts! Grace is free, it is wonderful, it is all-inclusive, it is beautiful, it is God's heart expressed!
What do we have, because of grace?
Because of grace, we are loved without condition. We are accepted, taken in, welcomed, understood, and enjoyed. We are loved on our good days and on our bad ones just the same. We are loved on the heights and in the ditch. We are loved no matter what. We cannot escape from this love that will hold us forever!
And because of grace, we are redeemed. Our sins are forgiven through Christ's sacrifice. We are set free from sin, shame, guilt, condemnation, the law, the curse, the bondage of Satan, and even death through the work of Christ on our behalf. We are cleansed, sanctified, set apart, made glorious and righteous in His sight!
Because of grace, we are made new creations. We are united with God. We are full of the Spirit. We are partakers of the divine presence and nature. We are seated with Christ in heavenly places, part of the eternal realm, full of the love of God and the fruits of the Spirit. God dwells in us and Christ is our life. The Spirit prays for us and is there for us as Friend and Support. We are never alone!
Because of grace, we are chosen, known, and held. We are carried through life. We are brought into fellowship and kept in fellowship. We are made firm and secure, and He is faithful to keep us and preserve us, spirit, soul and body, to the day of the redemption of our body. We are carried by God and will be carried by Him, the Spirit guaranteeing that we will receive our full inheritance and live forever with God.
Because of grace, we are complete. We have arrived. We are all that we were made to be. We have all of God, and God has all of us right where He wants us - in union with Him forever. God is loving us forever, fellowshipping with us forever. We are included in the loving fellowship of the Trinity itself. We have it made!
So what does this mean for you, for me, for all of us?
It means you don't have to work or strain to become something you already are - accepted and righteous and complete. You don't have to yearn for or work for something you already have - peace with God, and every blessing in spiritual places. You don't have to try to get somewhere you already are - in union with God, in His arms forever. You don't have to do anything! You don't have to worry about your performance or you security in Christ, for you are safely tucked into Christ by God Himself, and Christ is safely tucked into the bosom of the Father! You don't have to look to yourself to try to change yourself, for you are already 'all that you were meant to be - one with the One who is life (Dan Stone, from the book, The Rest of the Gospel).'
You don't have to try. You don't have to strain. You don't have to become. You don't have to get better. You don't have to change. You don't have to 'get accepted.' You don't have to 'do.' You can just BE, because you already ARE!
You don't have to 'do' anything at all, attempt anything at all, even try to understand or believe anything at all. There is no pressure on you in any way - no rules, no requirements, no obligations, no expectations. Nothing is required of you. There are no demands placed on you. It is not 'all up to you' - the pressure to perform is gone.
You can rest. You can relax. You can smile. You can live freely and lightly. You can laugh. You can lie down and sleep. You can be yourself. You can dance. You can celebrate. You can know God. You can look on His face. You can enjoy Him. You can enjoy His love.
You are complete. You are accepted. You are free. You are safe. You are His! You are loved! Without you doing one thing to make it happen! It already happened, it already IS! Through the finished work of Christ, you have been brought all the way into the Throne Room and placed on Daddy's lap! You have been given everything, and God the Father says of you, "Son/Daughter, you are always with Me, and all that I have is yours." You are in a place of perfect harmony and wholeness, total acceptance and unconditional love, and God says over you, "This is My beloved son/daughter in whom I am well-pleased." God already has you where He wants you, in His heart, where He can shower love on you for all eternity. Christ already brought you there. He has done all for you, and you are set, home free, perfect and perfectly loved for all time. It is finished without you doing a thing or needing to deserve a thing. It is freely done for you, to you: through Jesus you are home with God, in union with Him forever. That is grace!
So how would you summarize the meaning of grace?
For me, Grace is all God freely accomplished for us in Christ out of unconditional love...It is the love, acceptance, favor and blessing of God freely given to us, as shown in the work of Christ to bless us and give us the union life with God we were always meant to have...Grace is love freely given, without any stipulations..Grace is God sending Jesus...In fact, Jesus is the Grace of God in a Person...
And of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace! Thank You, God, for Your Grace!
What do we have, because of grace?
Because of grace, we are loved without condition. We are accepted, taken in, welcomed, understood, and enjoyed. We are loved on our good days and on our bad ones just the same. We are loved on the heights and in the ditch. We are loved no matter what. We cannot escape from this love that will hold us forever!
And because of grace, we are redeemed. Our sins are forgiven through Christ's sacrifice. We are set free from sin, shame, guilt, condemnation, the law, the curse, the bondage of Satan, and even death through the work of Christ on our behalf. We are cleansed, sanctified, set apart, made glorious and righteous in His sight!
Because of grace, we are made new creations. We are united with God. We are full of the Spirit. We are partakers of the divine presence and nature. We are seated with Christ in heavenly places, part of the eternal realm, full of the love of God and the fruits of the Spirit. God dwells in us and Christ is our life. The Spirit prays for us and is there for us as Friend and Support. We are never alone!
Because of grace, we are chosen, known, and held. We are carried through life. We are brought into fellowship and kept in fellowship. We are made firm and secure, and He is faithful to keep us and preserve us, spirit, soul and body, to the day of the redemption of our body. We are carried by God and will be carried by Him, the Spirit guaranteeing that we will receive our full inheritance and live forever with God.
Because of grace, we are complete. We have arrived. We are all that we were made to be. We have all of God, and God has all of us right where He wants us - in union with Him forever. God is loving us forever, fellowshipping with us forever. We are included in the loving fellowship of the Trinity itself. We have it made!
So what does this mean for you, for me, for all of us?
It means you don't have to work or strain to become something you already are - accepted and righteous and complete. You don't have to yearn for or work for something you already have - peace with God, and every blessing in spiritual places. You don't have to try to get somewhere you already are - in union with God, in His arms forever. You don't have to do anything! You don't have to worry about your performance or you security in Christ, for you are safely tucked into Christ by God Himself, and Christ is safely tucked into the bosom of the Father! You don't have to look to yourself to try to change yourself, for you are already 'all that you were meant to be - one with the One who is life (Dan Stone, from the book, The Rest of the Gospel).'
You don't have to try. You don't have to strain. You don't have to become. You don't have to get better. You don't have to change. You don't have to 'get accepted.' You don't have to 'do.' You can just BE, because you already ARE!
You don't have to 'do' anything at all, attempt anything at all, even try to understand or believe anything at all. There is no pressure on you in any way - no rules, no requirements, no obligations, no expectations. Nothing is required of you. There are no demands placed on you. It is not 'all up to you' - the pressure to perform is gone.
You can rest. You can relax. You can smile. You can live freely and lightly. You can laugh. You can lie down and sleep. You can be yourself. You can dance. You can celebrate. You can know God. You can look on His face. You can enjoy Him. You can enjoy His love.
You are complete. You are accepted. You are free. You are safe. You are His! You are loved! Without you doing one thing to make it happen! It already happened, it already IS! Through the finished work of Christ, you have been brought all the way into the Throne Room and placed on Daddy's lap! You have been given everything, and God the Father says of you, "Son/Daughter, you are always with Me, and all that I have is yours." You are in a place of perfect harmony and wholeness, total acceptance and unconditional love, and God says over you, "This is My beloved son/daughter in whom I am well-pleased." God already has you where He wants you, in His heart, where He can shower love on you for all eternity. Christ already brought you there. He has done all for you, and you are set, home free, perfect and perfectly loved for all time. It is finished without you doing a thing or needing to deserve a thing. It is freely done for you, to you: through Jesus you are home with God, in union with Him forever. That is grace!
So how would you summarize the meaning of grace?
For me, Grace is all God freely accomplished for us in Christ out of unconditional love...It is the love, acceptance, favor and blessing of God freely given to us, as shown in the work of Christ to bless us and give us the union life with God we were always meant to have...Grace is love freely given, without any stipulations..Grace is God sending Jesus...In fact, Jesus is the Grace of God in a Person...
And of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace! Thank You, God, for Your Grace!
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