This is a post for those who were raised in a church that was more religious than relational. Religious: you felt that God didn’t like you; you felt like God was mad at you; you felt intense shame when you messed up; you hated going to church because it was more of the same feelings that you were not measuring up; always being told what you were doing wrong or what you needed to change; always feeling badly for what you were or were not doing.
If there is a truth today that every person who grew up in this kind of church needs to know, it is this: When God Looks At You, He Doesn’t See What Is Wrong With You, He Sees What Is Missing.
When God Looks At You, He Doesn’t See What Is Wrong With You, He Sees What Is Missing.
God sent Jesus for what was wrong with you. He sent Jesus to pay the price for your sin. He paid the debt that you could not pay. He fixed the problem you could not fix. Jesus died for what was wrong with you. Therefore, He no longer sees what WAS wrong with you. He sees what’s missing. And He LONGS to give it to you!
He longs to help you! Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” God both longs and delights to give you love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faith, temperance and self-control.
You see, you don’t have an anger problem when you are sinning in your anger. No, Jesus died for you sinning in your anger. He just sees that you need to develop gentleness in your life, and He offers you the help and power of the Holy Spirit to grow gentleness in you.
God is not mad at you. God LOVES you!
God is not mad at you. God LOVES you!
His Word is not to condemn you! His Word is to conform you to the image of His Son, Jesus, because that is the only way you will ever be happy, fulfilled, and free! Why? Because you are living the way you were originally created to live!
His Word is not to condemn you but to conform you to the image of His Son, Jesus.
When you really KNOW these three truths in the depths of your soul, you will approach every opportunity to hear the preaching and teaching of the Word as an opportunity for revelation: showing you what needs to go that is contaminating your soul and what fruit needs to replace it. You will sit on the front row of your worship services and small groups, eager to hear the Word and eager to grow! You are ready and willing to let the Lord “step on your toes” because you are confident in His love for you!
And what is our response to this gift of love and grace? Repent, and then partner with the Holy Spirit! Repentance is to change your mind/perspective about how you’ve been looking/perceiving something and then respond in obedience to what the Spirit reveals to you!
If you will adjust your thinking and believing to: God is not mad at you, He loves you deeply; His Word is not to condemn you but conform you; and He no longer sees what is wrong with you, He sees what is missing, everything changes.
So let everything change….today.
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