PERFORMANCE? or ACCEPTANCE?
08th Feb 2012
The Bible clearly tells us that while we were helpless, God sent Jesus to rescue us and make us his own.
Romans 5:6 in The Message put it like this, "Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway."
We sing, “Love reached down and rescued me.” So why are so many people still performing in order to be acceptable? God knows us completely and isn’t impressed by performance, however good or bad! He is looking for relationship and those who will depend on His resources. Our “performance” is then simply being a conduit to bring His divine resources to where they are needed. We do not need to perform in order to be acceptable to God.
It is only because of His wonderful love and grace that we can know forgiveness, cleansing and acceptance, which produces in us peace, security and the certainty that what God has graciously given to us, and also wants to give to others that we know and love.
However much dirt or tar you are covered with – the blood of Jesus washes completely, and His fire burns without destruction, everything that has tried to destroy you. Stop trying to make yourself acceptable to God, instead receive what He has freely made available – and rejoice!
Paul was a driven performer until he received the grace of God – he then willingly devoted his life to tell others that same good news.
Acceptance leading to spontaneous Action
NOT - Performance trying to gain Acceptance
by Joyce Sibthorpe
