Friday night, this one phrase really caught my attention: The only motivation for my actions that matters is love. Everything I do that is not motivated by love for God, is sin. Our love for Him is responsive in nature...without Jesus, religion, the law, the "right thing to do" counts for nothing! This was so convicting. So often, I will 'do the right thing' but forget why I am doing it. Not only in my physical actions, but in my relations toward others. Do I love them as Christ loves me? Are my actions towards them motivated out of love for Christ? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" May this scripture season everything we say, do, and think.
Saturday morning session 1: Self-righteousness / Condemnation = Gone through Jesus. So...I'm pretty much both. I see others sin and become self-righteous then feel condemned for my self-righteousness. It's a tiresome cycle which is unending apart from God. Self-righteousness: I need to remember that I am the chief of sinners...I am the worst out there. If I have that in mind coupled with a motivation of love, my attitude toward others' sin will be one of faithfulness: faithful to love them and faithful to bring up an observation with grace and truth. Condemnation: It is appropriate for me to consider my sin...yet there's no power to change if I am simply focused on myself and sin. The point is not to consider sin, but to consider Jesus. My sin needs to point towards my desperation for a Savior, not to me and my failures. If all I see is sin, i will not have the faith to war against it and grow in sanctification.
Saturday morning session 2: "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will exalt over you with loud singing." LOVE. Why does God love me? I have NO idea...but I am His beloved daughter in whom He is well pleased. I am IN Christ and His disposition towards me is not based on my to-do list or anything BUT the cross! I so often think God is disappointed in me and I attempt to "heal" myself by my own righteous repentance; assuming God will be pleased. I don't earn God's smile over me through repentance, Jesus earned it...and in light of that truth, repent!
Listening to messages about God's love for us...His L.0.V.E. how amazing is that!? He loves us.
