Are You Striving Through Life?

I have been having a discussion with someone and I really feel like I need to tell you all something.

STOP striving!

The truth is this: God loves you. Nothing you can do will make Him love you any less, and nothing you can do will make Him love you anymore.

Jesus died on the cross for ALL sin, past, present and future. That includes your's.

We live under the law of GRACE. 

Does that mean we don't have to follow the 10 Commandments? Absolutely not. The commandments are examples of how we should live, and actually, Jesus one up'd them when He came. For example, one of the Commandments is not to commit adultery. Jesus said if you looked lustfully at a woman, you've committed adultery with her in your heart.

These Commandments are meant to help us live good lives, they weren't made for us to strive and worry over breaking them.

What I am saying is we don't have to strive for God's approval or love.

In the Old Testament they sacrificed animals, burned incense and things because that's how God forgave them of their sin. Only the Priest could go in the Holy of Holies in the temple to talk to God and ask for forgiveness for their sins.

He sent Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice. Once and for all. What He did gives us direct access to God. We can have an intimate relationship with God, personally, on our own. We can pray, we can read our Bible, and we have the Holy Spirit to help us learn, listen and  understand.

Jesus tells us in the New Testament that the GREATEST commandment is the "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. The second is equally important, love your neighbor as yourself."  (Matthew 22: 34-40)

Jesus came and made a new covenant with man kind. He wants us to follow His example and treat people the way we want to be treated. 

Yes, it really is that simple. 

Will you give your life fully to Him today? Will you stop striving and thinking you have to perform to be loved by Him? Will you please please hear my heart and know that you are dearly loved by God. No matter what. 

You don't have to keep jumping through hoops, upholding every single Old Testament rule, and feeling guilty because you are falling short.

God KNEW we'd fall short. He says it in Scripture, "For all have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:23)

You don't have to have a perfect life for God to love you. He already does.

God bless you today and always.