Sharing my faith and my life one day at a time.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Verse Download: Lavish Affection

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." Titus 3:4-5

Earning salvation that has nothing to do with what I can accomplish with my works. I know and have accepted this a long time ago -- but there is always a need for me to be reminded of this when I get caught up crossing off my to-do list.

I cannot become worthy of God's love or deserving of His forgiveness. If I catch myself trying, I have sit at His feet and give it up.

Yes, it does slip in -- that little lie that deceives me into thinking I can add to what God has already done. It has become convenient to blame my past. Studying in academically competitive school. Working for bosses who did not care about my name but only the numbers I produced.

While the history is valid, I need to start taking responsibility for my choices.

I choose to fully accept that my Father's approach His relationship with me is so radically, dramatically different than the relationships I have been used to. His love for me is a free gift that can never be earned by anything 'good' that I do.

It feels liberating to get it over and over again!

His affection for me knows no bounds. His forgiveness cannot be exhausted.

His willingness to die for me did not just happen once in Christian history but is a constant, ongoing reality.

Today, I lay aside any notion that if I 'do well' today, God will love me more; or that if I fail, He will love me less. I get butterflies when, at the end of the day, His love for me is already complete. And not only is it complete, it overflows.

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