Unshackled Moments ~ May 28, 2018 ~ Although Is Better Than Because

It really is hard sometimes not to feel the need to earn God's love. Or at least to deserve it. Perhaps because of the combination of Memorial Day today and June 6 being on my mind because it is both D-Day and the day before Leah's heart surgery, but my mind keeps going to the movie Saving Private Ryan. In the movie, several men make a sacrifice on behalf of another soldier that they had never even met before, the ultimate sacrifice. One of the soldiers who dies tells Private Ryan in his final words to "earn this." Cut to an old man surrounded by his family at that soldier's grave saying that he did his best and hopes that he earned what was sacrificed for him. Ryan asks his wife to tell him that he's lived a good life and is a good man.

It's a tear jerking scene, and it gets me every time I see it. In part, because I know that for years I did not live a good life and was not a good man. I wanted to be, but couldn't. Even now, I can not be as good as I know I should be, as good as I wish to be. I'm not unique. Paul called himself the chief of sinners and said what he knew he should do he couldn't do, and what he knew he should not do, he did. Daddy sacrificed His only begotten Son for us. The Son willingly gave up His life so that we could live. And we all know that we don't deserve such a sacrifice or such great love.  So we try to earn it, to deserve it. But we can't.

And to continue to try disrespects the gift. We love because. Because He first loved us. Because of what He has done for us. Because the Spirit of God living in us enables us to love. We love because to love someone who so perfectly loves us is the logical and natural response. And that is OK. That is as it should be. To turn to God with gratitude and love Him because He loves us is the best that we can do, and it pleases Him no end.

But we don't have to earn or deserve His love. Daddy doesn't love us because. He never has and never will. Daddy loves us although. Although we didn't deserve it. Although we were and are a mess. Although we fell short and will fall short again. Although we were selfish and broken and not good enough. Although anything and everything, He loves us and did everything needed to make a way for us to love Him back, to have relationship with Him, to have a life worth living and to be free to choose relationship.

Although is better than because. With because I have to to perform. I have to meet and maintain a standard of rightness that would make it the natural and logical response of God to accept and love me. And I can never do that. Neither can you. Because sucks. Because we will never be enough to deserve God putting on flesh and dying in our place. Although is grace. Although is wonderful. Although is undeserved and simply needs to be accepted. Because He lived and died and lives and although I deserved to be rejected, I am free to love Him and have relationship with Him. And so are you. Today, let us accept the love we are given although and not worry about because, because God never once said for us to earn His sacrifice.



This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.