Dear Mike,
How God feels about us is unshakeable. It is never dependent on how good we are or how poorly we behave.
God looks at His children, clothed in the righteousness of His Son, and He is forever delighted. Not a delight that I have ever deserved or earned or ever could deserve or earn. Those who think they can merit God’s pleasure have no idea of His holiness nor their sin.
It leaves us in a wonderful place of being able to rejoice in our Father’s love and pleasure without worrying about our performance.
Does God engage with us to help us grow up? Yes. Does sin produce death? Certainly. Is all of our sin paid for on Calvary? Yes. I can never sin my way out of my relationship with Father. I can affect the way that He deals with me. He is always about growing us up into the image of His Son Jesus.
Hebrews speaks of “fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of faith”, Paul speaks of “not being drawn away from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus.”
Despite my brokenness, despite my failures, despite my weakness, foolishness, stupidity—I am deeply loved by my Father. It leaves me in the posture of rejoicing in God’s love for me, settled and confident in who I am to my Father (regardless of what others or my performance is saying), and free to move forward in love.
Your brother,
David
J3Khai.fun 