Amazing Love

I heard recently that the most important thing about you is what happens when you hear the name Jesus. In context – the speaker was referring to the fact that the single most important aspect of my faith is my ability to accept the Love of Christ. This causes me to pose the question to myself… “Rob, do you know how Jesus feels about you?” Oddly – I had to answer “no”. Up until this point I had accepted the “knowledge” that Jesus loves me this I know… but the real personal side of it was, that I feel Jesus is distant from me as an individual, and I am not aware of how He feels about me personally. Then it hit me; “I am not okay with not knowing!!!” I realized that I have to “KNOW” Jesus’ love for me. I have to understand that He passionately loves me personally or I run the risk of being nothing more than religious in my faith. It is the foundation of my relationship with God.
Like having my sight restored – I began to see how many things in my life were being motivated by the sense that I have to earn God’s favor. But wait a second, I’m a pastor, and I know that I am saved by grace. Imagine my embarrassment when I realize that a “works based faith” has crept it’s way into my life.
In our culture it’s so easy to feel that I have to earn God’s favor, or even His attention. The main reason for this flawed thinking is because… everyone else works that way. Even the best parent, cannot love unconditionally like Jesus does. Everyone in my world (and yours) loves based on performance, appearance, and what we do. Every one of us gets fed up, tired of forgiving, we’d rather love someone else… but not Jesus, he doesn’t work that way. He is the only one who can totally separate who I am from what I do (or fail to do). He is the only one who really loves me unconditionally, personally. And knowing this… really knowing it, is what motivates me to live my life for Him.