God So Loved...

"You don’t have to try to be God’s daughter or son. You just are" (Page 149).

In Chapter 8 of Jesus > Religion, Bethke speaks of God's scandalous grace. This has been my favorite chapter of his book, thus far.  What better news than to know that God loves you just because that is who He is?  What better news than His grace applies to you, no matter what you have done or will do?  

"Religion says go and try not to sin anymore, and then I won’t condemn you. Jesus reverses it. We understand we are free and no longer condemned and then we can go and live a life of freedom and holiness" (Page 139).

He makes clear, he doesn't condone people just going out and doing whatever they want because they are "saved."  But he also notes that those who have truly been transformed by God's love and grace will desire to be with Him, over the other behaviors that used to appeal.  

"God’s love is so potent that, when it finally pierces the heart, we can’t help but have a transformed heart... The problem with fear-based Christianity is we only obey when the fear is there. If you only want to obey God when you feel threatened by his commands, it’s not God you worship, but your fear. Love, however, compels a heart and produces lasting joy and obedience" (Page 143 & 144). 

He speaks to those who put on masks and are not being authentic. "The problem with wearing masks is even when we receive love, it’s really the mask that is receiving the love, not us. Whatever gets thrown at us will always hit the mask and can’t penetrate our souls. So it is with God’s grace. Every second of every day he pursues us and offers grace, but until we take off our masks, we will never be able to accept it. When we expose ourselves and are completely vulnerable, we lose control but gain joy and freedom" (Page 140). 

Healthy vulnerability and authenticity are rare and difficult characteristics to find in the modern American world.  I believe we have become more afraid of what our fellow man and society dictates is "okay" that we fail to show our true colors.  The beautiful thing about God's love is that as it transforms us, it continues to free us into who we were designed to be, regardless of the world's standards.  

I am definitely a work in progress, but I have been so thankful for the transforming power of God's love and grace.  The more I grow in relationship with Him, the more I am in awe of it and the more freedom to just love Him and trust Him occurs.  My masks are dropping.  I'm learning to be who I was created to be.

"Real grace loves us right where we are, but it loves us too much to keep us there. Cheap grace—which is not really grace at all—is like a horrendous version of love that sees its loved one in danger and simply says, 'I love you.' That doesn’t cut it. We need rescuing. And God does exactly that. We know we've accepted God’s transforming grace if we begin to look different. Don’t think grace is beyond your grasp. God is offering it to you. It’s free. And it’s life-giving. Will you trust him?" (Page 153).