𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗦 – Part 4: 𝗜 𝗔𝗠 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗗

Do well, and people praise you.

Make a mistake, and they pull away.

Perform long enough, and perhaps you will finally feel accepted.

Without realizing it, we can begin to believe God operates the same way. We assume He loves us more when we pray, read our Bible, attend church, and make good choices—and less when we fail.

But the gospel tells a different story.

Romans 5:16 says that God gives us the free gift of being made right with Him even though we are guilty of many sins. God did not wait for us to become worthy before sending Jesus. Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. 𝗜𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.

The world’s way of authority often begins with control.

It says, “I am in charge, so you must do what I say.” Then it holds people accountable, gives affirmation when they perform well, and may finally offer acceptance if they meet the standard.

In that kind of system, acceptance becomes something people must earn. It can produce fear, pressure, people-pleasing, hiding, or rebellion because a person is never sure they have done enough.

God’s way is the opposite.

His authority is not motivated by a desire to control us. It is motivated by His love for us.

In Christ, God begins with acceptance. From that place of acceptance, He affirms that we are His children, holds us accountable, corrects what is harmful, and teaches us to trust His authority.

The difference is not that God has no boundaries or never disciplines us. The difference is the motivation behind His authority.

The world may use authority to get something from us.

God uses His authority to accomplish what is good for us.

The world says, “Obey me, and then perhaps I will accept you.”

God says, “Because you are accepted in Christ, trust Me enough to obey Me.”

That does not mean God approves of everything we do. Because He loves us, He corrects us, disciplines us, and calls us away from the things that hurt us.

But His correction is not rejection.

A loving Father does not abandon His children when they fall. He reaches down, lifts them up, and leads them toward what is best.

We do not obey God so He will love us.

We obey because He already loves us.

We do not serve to earn a place in His family.

We serve because, through Christ, we have been adopted into His family.

Your feelings may tell you that you are rejected. Your failures may tell you that you are unworthy. Your past may try to convince you that you have gone too far.

But when you belong to Jesus, your identity is not determined by your worst moment.

You are in Christ.

You are God’s child.

You are forgiven.

You are loved.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱—𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

—Romans 8:1