“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s judgement.  For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends with God.  Romans 5:8-11, NLT 

Do you know that God loves you?  Seriously, do you really understand that there is nothing you can do about the fact that God loves you?  His love for you will never change.  For years I knew that God loved me, but I thought I had to “do” things in order to keep His love, but I have come to realize that no matter what, God loves me.  

This revelation has brought much freedom and peace.  You see, I am a doer by nature and in the past I was totally consumed with works of self and doing things in order to please God.  Don’t get me wrong, it is wonderful to spend time in prayer, to read the Bible and to fast, but these things do not make God love you.  His love for us is constant and is not dependent on us participating in various spiritual disciplines. Here is the question I have learned to ask myself, “Am I doing this spiritual discipline in order to get something from God or am I doing it out of my love for Him?”  If we participate in works in order to receive something from God, we are missing the point!  God loves us no matter what.  Spiritual disciplines are only to be done out of our love for Him, and let’s remember that He first loved us.  Selah (pause and think about that for a moment).

Let me remind you today that Jesus went to the cross and bore your sin, sickness and every curse of the devil.  His precious blood has given us relationship with God without the works of the law.  When God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sin, He sees us covered in the blood of Jesus.  Our faith is never to be in our works, but in God’s grace.  There is nothing we can “do” to be saved, but it is by the grace of God that we are saved.

It is because of God’s unconditional love for us, that we want to pray, read His Word and spend time in fellowship with Him (not out of obligation or to make Him love us), but out of thankfulness for Jesus and His blood.  His grace is greater than your sin, sickness or anything you encounter on earth.  He loves you my friend.  I pray that you relish in this awesome truth today.  Be free from works of the flesh and simply receive the greatest gift ever given – grace through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Prayer:

“Lord, thank you for your love and grace.  I am amazed that you love me unconditionally.  This means that even if I were to mess up today – you still love me.  Help me to receive this truth.  I declare Your grace over my life today.  Cover me with Your blood.  I am forgiven, redeemed, healed and restored through the cross.  You did the last “work” ever needed.  You went to the cross for me and all I need to do is enjoy my relationship with You.  Your love is amazing!  Amen.”