Why do I pursue the dreams God placed in my heart – to earn His favor or because I love Him and want to be a part of His work? I spent the last 25 years of my life trying to balance belief and action - faith and works. I know I cannot earn my salvation but if I work hard enough for God, His love for me will increase, right? 

That is not the Gospel.

If my motivation for doing good deeds is to increase God’s love for me, I am attempting to manipulate God – a religious practice that is found all throughout history. Hundreds of years ago people would honor the rain god so that it will rain enough for a good harvest or sacrifice goats to the fertility god to insure a large family. Today, I tithe and give to the poor so that God will bless me financially. I never miss a Sunday service so that God will be pleased. I try to sin less so that God does not take blessings away from me.

There is no “if, then” or “so that” with God. He is not manipulated, He is not that small.

Our good works cannot increase His love and favor. He already loves us all the way and cannot love us more. He does not desire you and me to work for His love. He desires our love – He already did all the work on the Cross, through Jesus. When we try to earn His love we diminish Jesus.

As Americans we want to earn what we have and deserve it. “I want what is rightfully mine!” With God, we cannot remotely deserve His love, so we cannot remotely earn it. This is very difficult to grasp because our individual value in the American culture is often determined by what we achieve. Even Santa Clause gives us presents if we are good enough and coal if we are not. None of that value system translates into God’s economy.

This is freedom in Christ – the freedom to be with God without fear of not having done enough to earn His favor - the freedom to do good because we love Him, because He loves us, not so that He loves and blesses us. In Christ, we are free from, “Am I good enough?”

Are you living and dreaming like someone who is loved today?