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SOUL MATTERS
Love~A Powerful Force
We all long to be loved and accepted. This is an inborn characteristic of who we are. We need to know we "fit in" with others or at least with someone. This was recently, once again, brought to my attention, at a high school reunion I attended. A classmate and I were talking of those who moved away when we were in grammar school. We both had a "best" friend who shook our world by moving out of state. I listened as she told me her little girl fears that no one else would "like" her and accept her into their circle of friends. For a moment I re-lived those feelings. I knew exactly what she was talking about. I looked at this pretty lady and smiled. We both had survived those childhood traumas.
As an adult now, I know our need to be loved and accepted never leaves us. This very need is the root cause that leads a woman to bed with a man who says, "I love you." Men and women are led to the marriage alter, believing they are loved and cherished, only to find it was a conditional love.
How liberating it is to realize God's love for me is unconditional. It never changes. It does not depend on me. It just is and there is no changing it. My part is to accept it as a gift.
At one time in my life I thought being a follower of Christ demanded near perfection. My lack of being able to make the mark caused guilt most of my life. Some believe that God places disease and tragedy on us when we don't measure up. Others believe that you win God's acceptance by abiding by laws, when actually the Ten Commandments were given to prove that we can't keep them and to show us our need for a Savior. They were given to expose our sin, not to take it away. That's what Jesus' death on the cross accomplished. It wiped our slate clean. Our 'goodness' does not win God's acceptance of us. Only Jesus makes us acceptable. The laws of the old testament is all about looking at ourselves and what we can do for God. The New Testament covenant of grace (undeserved favor) is about accepting what Jesus, Himself, did at the cross.
Once we realize there is nothing we can do or have to do, but accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, the pressure is off. Then we want to live good lives, be kind to others, be faithful to our spouse, be good parents, be good employees, attend church with like-minded people and tell of God's goodness to us. We want to live this way because of the awesome act of love that was done for us.
What a plan! If it were left up to us to earn our own salvation, some could do better it than others. Some could boast of what they have done. Jesus made the playing field level. All people come to the cross needy. He has done all the work. Now that is the good news. And His love becomes a powerful force in our lives, something we can't brag about. We just let it shine and share it with those who ask about the hope that is in us.
So, if anyone reading this needs desperately to be loved and accepted unconditionally, I'm here to tell you, there is Someone just waiting for you to ask Him into your life. He is altogether lovely. He's not the harsh force in the sky, just waiting for you to mess up. His love will never be equaled and is not judgmental. Anyone that accepts Him has already been judged and the debt has been paid. You are free to go and love others with the love He puts in you.
Go for it! See Faith Check! under Soul Matters
"If God had wanted to be a big secret, He would not have created babbling brooks and
whispering pines."
~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com~
or Beautiful Kaua'i, Hawaii.
(taken on a trip with my son, Russ.)
~God's Handiwork~
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