It's Really Not About You

God is love. 1 John 4:8

Notice what this text does not say?

It does not say "God is loving because you didn't get angry yesterday."

It does not say "God is loving because you didn't lie cheat or steal this week." or "You made all the right decisions so God loves you." or "You went to church this weekend so you are loved." How about "You totally flubbed that one up so you are not loved."

It doesn't say any of those things. As a matter of fact, it doesn't talk about us at all! It talks about God and who God is. It simply says "God is love." That's who he is and his love is not dependent on us.

Does he like it when we make bad choices? No. Does he wish we'd lean on him more and make better choices? Yes. Will he love us more if we make better choices? No. When we make bad choices, does he still love us? Yes.

I'm not sure where the idea came from that to be loved by God you had to perform.....oh wait that started in the Garden of Eden.....OK. So we know where it came from. But we also know it's a lie. When Adam and Eve didn't perform God came looking for them. He sought them out and he talked to them. Did they have to face the consequences of their decision? Yes. But he also provided for them in the midst of it. Why? Because God is love.

God's unconditional love is a gift. We don't deserve it. It's totally free. How about we stop believing the lie that we have to earn it? How about we stop making this about us and instead make it about God. What he wants from us is a relationship, not a completed list of accomplishments. Besides, our meager accomplishments are miniscule compared to what he's already done.