Pleased part 4
God is not just pleased WITH us. Because, to me, that implies conditions. Something we do pleased Him. And that happens, don't get me wrong. Every time the Word (which is Jesus, which is love) becomes flesh and the idea of love becomes charity, or love in action, I believe God is very pleased. Like when I see my kid do something out of the kindness of his heart. Makes me even more proud of him than I usually am. But that's the point. I'm always pleased IN him. Because he's my kid. And Jesus is God's beloved Son IN whom He is well pleased. Not because of what Jesus did, but because of who Jesus is. And because of who God is. Beloved Son. Loving heavenly Father. That is the gift of God--that Father/Son relationship that is built on unconditional love. Its like that old country song says, "Daddy's don't just love their children every now. Its a love without end. Amen." Love doesn't waver. Love doesn't pick flower petals in the hopes of ending up on the right one. "He loves me, He loves me not" does not exist. Its only and always, "He loves me. He loves me. He can't stop loving me." Because He IS love. And what else could love do but love? So what I'm trying to say today is: You don't have to be afraid of losing what you've got. You don't have to walk around on eggshells trying to please God, with the flip side being the fear of upsetting you. God is NOT mad at you. He is mad ABOUT you. Head over heels in love with you. You are the apple of His eye. And even though they SAY love is blind--when they really mean lust is blind, because when we want something from someone its easy to sweep their flaws or what have you under the rug and see them the way we want to see them instead of the way they really are--what love really does is He sees clearly. He sees us as we really are and He loves us for who we are. Love doesn't demand His own way. Love doesn't try to change us. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "God loves you just the way you are... but He loves you too much to leave you that way." And every time I hear it something rises up in me. Because the first part is true, but the secord part doesn't just imply but flat out SAYS we are not good enough. But if we weren't good enough, why would God love us that way? Why would God MAKE us that way? See, the truth is, God DOES love us just the way we are. What He wants is for us to KNOW the way we REALLY are. He wants us to BE who we really are. And that's not about changing into someone we're not. That's not about not being good enough, but somehow trying really hard and being better. That's about casting off the lie and embracing the truth. That's about resting in God's love instead of working to try to earn it. I'm telling you--God loves you. He always has and He always will. He looks at you and He sees Jesus. He looks at Jesus and He sees you. Because you are IN Christ and He is IN you. There is no separation. No difference. Jesus--God in the flesh, love in a body--is your true identity. Because He is God in YOUR flesh. Love in YOUR body. And since there is love IN THERE, it can (and will) come out. Naturally. By Him showing Himself to you, and you knowing and believing it. And when love comes out, that is when God is MOST pleased!