Have you ever been around other Christians who really seemed to love God a lot, and it made you feel condemned? Well, at one time I was one of those Christians who made others feel unworthy.
Years ago, before I had the revelation of grace, I was leading a conference and told the women that they should tithe a portion of their day to the Lord with worship and prayer. I told them that 2.4 hours was a tithe of the 24 hour day, and that’s how much time that should be alone with the Lord. Then I said, “Why not just round it up to 3 hours?” A friend of mine was at the conference and later told me how condemned she felt by my words. At that time she had four children under the age of eight. How in the world could she go off in a room by herself for thirty minutes, much less 3 hours?!
The perspective behind preaching love FOR God can be very legalistic and condemning. In reality, we love because HE FIRST LOVED US. If we get it backwards and have the mindset that we are the initiators in our love relationship with God, we will believe that our relationship with Him is based on our love for Him, rather than His love for us.
The greatest commandment under the LAW according to Jesus Himself is loving God:
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28)
This man who questioned Jesus was an expert in the law. Jesus answered in the purity of the law, but honestly, has anyone ever been able to do what Jesus Himself said was the key to eternal life? No! That’s why God sent His Son, and in the final offering for sin the Trinity demonstrated loving us with all His heart, soul, strength, and mind!
Today I don’t pressure people to give “a tithe” of their day to the Lord. I just share the love of God with them. Because of the indwelling presence of the Lord in our hearts, we can now love Him and others because He first loved us.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)
(from pages 75-76 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1 All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
