From the moment we were children, we were taught conditions. For example, if we perform a task, we receive something of value. From childhood, when we completed our chores, we were given an allowance. As you went through school, the time you spent studying for a test, the expectation is to receive a good grade. In college, as you put in hard work completing assignments and taking exams, in the end, you are expecting to receive your degree. Keep traveling with me, because while we are at work, listening to bosses, putting up with co-workers, clients, working eight plus hour days, we not only expect a paycheck, but we often expect a raise or promotion. Facts! And let us NOT leave this out…those relationships…baaaaby…whether friendships, parenting, or intimate relationships; we spend time caring, loving, giving of ourselves, etc… the human in us is expecting love, affection, and appreciation in return (be honest with yourself and you can get somewhere).
Believe it or not, this has the tendency to develop a mindset and a dangerous one. The dangers of developing this mindset: working for progress, working to receive something, and working for love and affection in return; causes us to believe our relationship with God has those same conditions. We believe He thinks and acts just as we do. Let me help you free yourself! He said, my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways; Isaiah 55:8.
So, His thoughts NOT like my thoughts, what does that mean? Well, I’m glad you asked! I have had an extremely rewarding career; and at one company, I was serving on the executive management team, with 5 managers reporting to me, and approximately 30 employees total under our division. Pretty impressive? Well maybe, but that would be considered an effect of working hard. You see people work for levels of progression in a company.
The issue with working hard, is we like to take credit for the reward (position) we obtain. During this experience, God intervened in a way that not only I couldn’t take credit for, but so He would surely get the Glory!! At this same company, for the new position I held, when I obtained the position; wait for it: I was not qualified! I had only been with the company on this program for a year and a half, I had just finished my undergraduate degree (in something COMPLETELY unrelated), oh did I mention my new position was not well received by some of my other colleagues, and one more I did NOT apply for it! God reminded me to humble yourself in His presence and He will exalt you; James 4:10. My works had absolutely nothing to do with God’s elevation.
Not only do we spend a lot of works for levels of progression, we spend quite a bit of our time, energy(works), and giving of ourselves for love, attention, and affection; all to receive the same in return. So much so, it can be exhausting, and unfortunately, sometimes, it is not always returned. God through His son, Jesus, gave of Himself willingly and freely; while we were yet sinners; Romans 5:8. This is while we were still His enemies. Acceptance of the Son was available for us to receive, BEFORE our existence. Isn’t that amazing? God knowing us before we were formed in our mother’s womb; Jeremiah 1:5, He STILL sent His son to die a death beyond our imagination, for me…for you. Get it? And because He knew, and our filthy mcnastiness was already taken into consideration, there was/is no work we can do.
I pray this encourages you to accept/receive Him and stop working to obtain His love. He is the only available, constant love you will ever find. For it is by grace that you been saved through faith. And this salvation is not of yourselves, but it is the gift of God; not as a result of your works, so that no one will boast or take credit in any way; Ephesians 2:8-9AMP. You can exhale, this gift is free and already paid for by the shedding of His blood. You cannot and do not have to work for this!
