We live in a world that rewards performance. It’s ingrained in us from an early age. Tests, sports, education, manners; almost everything. And this performance-based mindset affects our view of and relationship to God. We can believe we must perform to certain standards to be in right relationship with God. We feel that when we do the right thing, God turns his chair toward us. We feel that when we do the wrong thing, He turns His is back on us. As such, we begin creating religious performance-based rules for ourselves and then live by them, in bondage. But Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. He came to restore a relationship.
Jesus’ extravagant love FOR us requires extravagant love FROM us.
Conviction is an indicator of “God with us”.
To become a mature body of Christ, forgiven people must forgive.