“We think and talk and act like the only way God can love us is through Jesus.”

A thought by Steven Furtick, (2016-03-01) from his book, (UN)Qualified: How God Uses Broken People to Do Big Things (p. 54). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Do you feel and act like that is true? Steven says, “We think, Good thing Jesus died for me, because otherwise there’s no way God could tolerate me. Like most erroneous thinking, there is a kernel of truth in this belief. God is perfectly holy. Clearly we are not. We were sinners who deserved eternal separation from God. Our only hope is the righteousness that Jesus gives us through the Cross. That’s the foundation of Christianity. So from a legal, judicial viewpoint, when God looks at us, he sees Jesus, and that is our saving grace.”

But then Steven goes on, “But from a relational viewpoint, God doesn’t merely tolerate us. He loves us, pursues us, and embraces us.” Oh I love that.

But we don’t live like that is true. Steven says, “And maybe if we can stop smoking, stop cussing, stop yelling at the kids, stop eating ice cream after 9: 00 p.m., and actually make something of ourselves, God will be able to embrace us for who we are. He puts up with us for now. He’ll love us later. And maybe when we reach our own goals— that ideal weight, that income level, that standard— we’ll be able to love ourselves too.”

But then Steven says, “I can’t begin to tell you how flawed and damaging that perspective is. The Bible teaches the exact opposite. God loved us when we couldn’t have cared less about him. How much more certain is his love for us now that we actually want to know him and follow him?”

He loves us even in our messiness but also because of our love of Him we don’t want to stay there.

Steven quotes Richard Rohr who said, “Most of us were taught that God would love us if and when we change. In fact, God loves you so that you can change. What empowers change, what makes you desirous of change, is the experience of love. It is that inherent experience of love that becomes the engine of change.”

So is God’s love making a difference in your life?

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