Ever notice that most organizations insist that you earn your way? For example, airlines compensate frequent fliers with free miles, sports franchises reward players who score goals and win games. Some corporations even grade their employees on a scale where they can earn a private office or their own parking space. But God is not like that; you cannot earn salvation. Paul says, "The kindness of God leads...to repentance." Notice, he did not say the scare tactics of a preacher or the legalistic requirements of some church that you keep their standards before God will accept you. No, genuine repentance is our response to the unconditional love of a perfect God. A God who delights in reaching down and restoring the cracked pots and damaged vessels society wants to throw on the garbage heap. When you encounter a Savior like that, you want to please Him. It is impossible to experience the unfailing love of a God who stands by you when others fail you, and keep on abusing His love.
The very idea that God's love comes with no strings attached goes against every human instinct. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Love is the force that draws us to Him. To know Him is to love Him. and to walk with Him is to experience "joy unspeakable". To the hopeless and hurting our God says, "Come. Your past does not disqualify you; your problems are not too big for Me - I have handled bigger. Maybe you are not welcome anywhere else, but today you are "accepted in the beloved" Ephesians 1:6.
No comments:
Post a Comment