Tired Of Trying To Be Good?

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.
1 John 4:16-19
 

Did you know that the reason people are so bad is that they are trying so very hard to be “good”? In fact, the trying is so often so prideful (look at me how good I’m being), narcissistic (don’t you wish you could be as good as I am), and ego-centered (I’m so very good) that holiness is never the product.  Now…because of justification (in Christ we are forgiven), imputation (we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ), and adoption (through Christ we are children of Abba), we can lighten up and allow Abba to show His love when we get better and when we don’t.

 

You see, it is at that moment when we will be surprised with the goodness that often follows. That happens because goodness and failure to be good are no longer the issue…why? Because Jesus has already taken care of that.

 

The reason Abba didn’t just drop a book in our laps to express His love, but instead sent His Son, was because of the nature of His love.  Let me as a question, have you ever tried to explain how beautiful the blue sky is to someone who cannot see?  How about trying to explain the beauty of a symphony to someone who cannot hear?  Abba wants us to know the true nature of His love and the only way He could do that so we would understand was to send His love incarnate in Christ.

 

You see, love is not a concept, or an action, or a doctrine! Love is an experience, both when it is received and when it is given.  Remember this, you can only share love to the degree you have received love. When we truly experience the love of Abba through Christ, we can’t help but share it with others!