What was One of the Hardest Things you Had to Believe About God?
CONVERSATIONS:
What was one of the hardest things you had to believe about God?
One thing I had a hard time believing before, was that God's NOT a God of performance.
As a child, I believed that my value was based on my performance. The better my grades, behavior, etc.; the more valuable I became in the eyes of others .
I thought God was like that too. I thought He loved and favored people based on their "goodness" and good works.
Reading the Bible changed my wrong perception.
Three things I learned from the story of the Prodigal Son:
1. The son blew it and struggled with guilt and unworthiness:
"The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” Luke 15:21
Q. Are there times you struggle with feelings of unworthiness too?
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2. Despite the son's condition, the Father never stopped loving him.
When he was prideful and headstrong, the Father loved him. When he was bankrupt, a failure and smelling like a pig, the Father still loved him!
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.’” Luke 15:22-23
Even before the son had a chance to “clean up his act", the father already affirmed his identity.
3. Our value as a person is never based on our performance. Our values is based on the unchanging love of our Father towards us.
Q. Based on the following verses, which son did the Father love? Or did He love both?
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“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:31-32
Q. What is a right way for us to respond to God's unconditional love?
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Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for your Holy Word which reveals the truth of who You are: a loving God and Father. Thank You for the revelation that Your love isn't performance- based. You chose to love us even in our worst state. The Bible says "even while we were sinners", You sent your son to die on our behalf.
Continue to make it clear to us that our identity is not based on our good works but on the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
Let my response be one of gratitude, humility and obedience, towards You. For You, the person who knows me the most, still loves me the most. In Jesus name, Amen.
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