Re: It's all about behavior. Look up the word.

Beej, it is a major problem in Chrisitanity that so many have the concept that God's love has to be earned, and kept by the keeping of rules. But it's just not true.
Christianity is actually the opposite of that. We love God, we obey him, because of His great love for us.
I watch a show called intervention sometimes. Have you seen it? In case you haven't, I'll give you a brief description of the show. It's about people with addictions, usually drug or alcohol, or both. The person with the addictions is interviewed over a period of time, along with their families. The show also films this group of people over a period of time. It's a really sad show, but an eye opening show to me. In the interviews, the show delves into the past to see what could have possibly brought this addictive person to such a bad state. So many times, the person's past involves a parent or parents they felt like they couldn't please, they couldn't be good enough for, and so they never felt very loved by the parent or parents. And then I've seen shows where it's the opposite of that, where the addicted person had a parent or parents that didn't care what they did, never disciplined them, just played a passive role in their life. Both of those scenarios are bad.
There is no perfect parents in this world. Some fail miserably. Others do better, but there are no perfect ones.
But as christians, we have the perfect parent, the perfect father. His love is not based on our performance. So if we are the person that feels like we can never be good enough for God's love, then we are not understanding right. As children of God, we have a father that loves us unconditionally. We cannot be separated from His love. He started a work in us, He loved us first, and He will complete this work in us. He loved us so much, that He sent His son to suffer in our place, to die for our sins, so that we could live. His plan was never about putting us here to see if we could earn His love and measure up to His standards.
But because He is the perfect parent, His love changes us. He knows each one of us more fully than we could imagine. He knows perfectly how to teach each one of us , exactly the perfect time to discipline us, and how. He doesn't leave us alone in sin. He is always there pulling us out of the mire we got ourselves in. Do we rebel against Him sometimes? Absolutely we do, and some of his children a lot more than others. He will deal with the more rebellious ones, still out of His perfect love.
I have a child beej? Do you? Well, I know for me, God has taught me a lot about His love, through my little girl. She is so rebellious beej. She's four. But you know what, her rebellion does not make me love her any less. She is my child. And I will discipline her, because I love her. But even though she is rebellious a lot, I know she also has a deep desire to please me. When she knows she has pleased me, she is the happiest I ever see her. She also wants to learn and do everything that I do. As children of God, we have a desire to please our father, and we have a desire to learn and grow in Him, and do what He does. Right?

Here is an excellent writing about the love of the father. We need to understand how much He loves us and that it has nothing to do with our behavior, And then out of growing and abiding in His love, will we be changed, and obedience will flow:



From the book of Isaiah...

My dear child, I always long to be gracious to you, waiting to show you my compassion. (30:18) You are My servant and I have chosen you, not rejected you. Never be afraid because I am always with you. Don’t be anxious about things going on around you, because I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous hand. (41:9-10)

I am the One who has named you and you are Mine. (43:1) You are precious in My sight. You are honored and I love you. (43:4) Don’t dwell on things that have already happened or ponder things in the past. I will do something new. Do you want to see it? I will make a way when there is no way. (43:18-19) I will go before you and make the rough places smooth. I will shatter the barriers that block your way and will give you treasures, wealth from secret places so that you will know that it is I, the Lord God of Israel who calls you by name. (45:2-3)

Listen to Me. You have been carried by Me since the day you were born, from the womb. That will never change. I will still be the same, carrying you all the way to your old age. When your hair has all turned gray, I will still be carrying you. I always have and I always will. I will forever hear you and continuously deliver you. (46:3-4)

I am God and there is nobody else like Me. I determine everything – from the beginning to the end, even things which haven’t happened yet. My purposes will be established. Every one of them will be accomplished for My own good pleasure. Everything I say, I will do. I planned it and it you can be assured that it will happen.(46:9-11)

I have sworn to you that I will never be angry with you again. (54:9) My lovingkindness will never be removed from you. My covenant with you will never be shaken. I will always have compassion on you. (54:9-10) You will be called “My Delight” because I do delight in you. I will forever rejoice over you. (62:40-5)

Always,
Your loving Father






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